From craft todigital craftsmanship

Klaas Stok en Zonen B.V. is a family business in Friesland that has been active in the construction industry for more than a century. What began as a small forge, founded by the grandfather of current director Klaas Stok, has grown into a versatile and reliable partner for agricultural building projects and industrial constructions. Over the years, the company has grown along with the sector, without losing the craftsmanship and down-to-earth Frisian mentality that characterize it.

Today, the team works on diverse projects throughout the Netherlands: from steel structures for agricultural barns to specialized milk reception installations for FrieslandCampina in Workum. The company combines traditional craftsmanship with modern means of production and values precision, reliability and customer focus.

The challenge

Despite its growth, the company aspired to more structure and control over internal processes. Until recently, quotations were still prepared manually using a typewriter, which was not only time-consuming but also involved repetitive work. Revisions were cumbersome and error-prone. In addition, calculation, work preparation and order registration were not synchronous. Data was scattered in Excel, e-mails and paper folders, which meant that crucial information had to be searched for in different places too often.

The result:

• a lack of central oversight;
• risk of double entry and errors;
• limited traceability of material flows;
• unnecessary time pressure for work planners.

For a company working with increasingly large and complex projects, it became clear that the internal provision of information needed a digital professionalization. Klaas Stok en Zonen wanted to make the move to a future-proof system, but in a way that suited its practice and way of working.

The approach

The cooperation with Matrix Software provided the ideal basis for this. Together with four other construction companies they participated in intensive development sessions in Nijmegen. In co-creation we worked on a modern order and project management system that would fully integrate with the well-known Matrix calculation software. During these sessions, processes were examined, bottlenecks were identified and functionalities were worked out step by step. The result was a robust solution that not only reduces administrative burdens, but also fits seamlessly with the way steel processing companies operate. 

Within Klaas Stok en Zonen, Matrix is now widely used for calculations and quotations, work preparation, planning and material management, order processing and internal communication. The implementation was deliberately phased. Each department was given time to get used to the new workflows and Jacko Woutersen of Matrix remained closely involved as a permanent sparring partner. His role consisted of support, configuration advice and translating practical feedback into new possibilities in the software. This collaboration ensured that the system was not only rolled out, but truly owned.

The result

The digitization drive has had a major impact on business operations. Where previously information was scattered across different systems, everything is now recorded centrally in one integrated platform. This ensures transparency and prevents important data from getting lost in mailboxes or notebooks. The comprehensive materials management provides insight into discrepancies between quoted quantities and actual consumption.    

This allows the company to manage costs and schedule faster. And collaboration between departments is also demonstrably improved: everyone works from the same project data, which improves communication and reduces errors.

Another key advantage is scalability. The software grows with the company's ambitions. Whether it concerns larger projects, more complex constructions or expansion of the team: Matrix offers the flexibility needed to remain future-proof. Hendrik Stok: “With Matrix you can keep track of everything, so you never actually lose important information. The system helps us to provide structure while being able to go in depth when needed.” Director Klaas Stok adds: “If we didn't have the Matrix software, we would never have gotten this far as a construction company.”

Summary of impact:

• 100% digital centralization of quotes, orders and project information.
• Improved collaboration between departments thanks to one shared system.
• Traceability of project data and material flows.
• Better cost control by understanding material differences.
• Flexible and scalable software that grows with the business.
• A solid foundation for further digitization and process improvement.

The beginning and the future

Klaas Stok en Zonen was not only behind Matrix's first order registration system, but today works with Matrix Project: a powerful, modern solution that streamlines processes and prepares companies for the future. But the partnership goes beyond the software alone. Matrix continually invests in innovation, with new features in which cloud, AI and smart automation play an ever-increasing role. At a time when projects are becoming more complex and professionals scarce, Matrix offers the tools to remain efficient, scalable and future-proof. This is how we build digital craftsmanship together - today and tomorrow.