NBN
NBN is the publishing organization responsible for developing and distributing European and international standards for businesses.
- Company
NBN - Challenge
Creating a smooth and efficient process for submitting and managing subsidy applications. - Solution
Implementation of an Oracle Cloud-based solution, using APEX low-code for application development.
Contribute enables NBN to streamline its subsidy application process with Oracle Cloud and APEX low-code – quickly and efficiently.
NBN is the publishing organization responsible for developing and distributing European and international standards for businesses. As a member of ISO and CEN, NBN manages a catalog of over 100,000 standards. A high-performance IT architecture is essential for managing and selling this content. Previously, NBN’s IT architecture was focused on open-source solutions. However, in 2021, NBN partnered with Contribute to transition to a cloud-native IT stack, where software, hardware, and services are all based on Oracle technology. This shift not only reduced the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) but also increased business continuity and decreased reliance on niche expertise.
Contribute was also tasked with rapidly developing an initial application for subsidy applications. A quick start was made possible by leveraging Oracle-APEX low-code for application development.
The PNNA project
In addition to developing and selling standards, NBN provides funding to support research centers and industry federations, helping to promote the adoption of standards within businesses.
PNNA stands for pre-normative research (PN) and standards antennas (NA). This funding is managed by NBN in collaboration with the FPS Economy, ensuring that financial flows are properly aligned with the subsidy dossiers.
Initially, this process was handled manually. With the new PNNA platform, NBN aimed to develop an integrated system to manage the entire process—from submitting subsidy applications and approving them to drafting contracts and handling financial settlements.
Urgency on the PNNA project
While the Oracle infrastructure project at NBN was in full swing, the initial plan was to develop the PNNA platform using open-source technology.
However, it soon became clear that this would be NBN’s first APEX project. “Fortunately, the Oracle infrastructure was already in place since we were in the middle of that transition,” says Filip from Contribute.
However, since the initial analysis had already been completed, NBN wanted to accelerate the process and deliver the platform within a few months.
That’s why NBN enlisted Contribute’s help to get the PNNA project live as quickly as possible. Contribute went all in to meet the deadline. “The entire PNNA project—from analysis to implementation—was completed within two months. We went into production in September/October, and since November, the PNNA platform has been fully live, allowing NBN’s partners to submit their subsidy applications,” says Filip.
Robust IT architecture with Oracle
Johan Haelterman, Chairman of the Executive Committee at NBN: “Previously, we operated within a highly hybrid IT architecture, which posed significant risks in terms of continuity, maintainability, competency management, and ultimately, financial sustainability.”
“Together with Contribute, we conducted an analysis of our desired future IT architecture. Contribute approached this objectively and neutrally, evaluating various options and discussing them with NBN’s management. One of our key concerns as a publisher is the vast amount of digital assets we manage, where confidentiality, integrity, and availability are crucial. In the end, we chose Oracle because it provided the best long-term guarantees to meet NBN’s needs.”
Filip: “Security is also crucial for the PNNA process. It is our responsibility to mitigate any security risks. That’s why this project placed a strong emphasis on network security and access controls, ensuring the right permissions for contracts and subsidy applications. Users from research centers or industry federations access the system via a dedicated VPN, allowing them to submit applications and manage their own documents. Only NBN employees have full visibility across all subsidy applications.”
A new platform live in record time
Contribute’s software factory – a dynamic mix of experienced professionals and young talent – successfully managed the initial analysis, project follow-up, and development in collaboration with NBN. The team worked closely with various partners involved in the subsidy process, engaging in discussions with sector federations and research centers to align on network security, VPN access, and functionality. In October, NBN provided the necessary use cases, and by early November, all stakeholders participated in testing the new platform. Shortly after, the PNNA platform was fully operational. “We made the decision to launch this platform quickly as part of our strategy: creating value, maintaining a customer-centric vision, and ensuring efficient processes. The initial user feedback has been very positive, and NBN’s partners are extremely satisfied because the PNNA process now has a much faster turnaround time, ensuring subsidies reach their intended recipients more quickly,” says Johan Haelterman.
Filip also looks back with pride on Contribute’s achievement: “What made this project special was the urgency and the fact that we entrusted young talents with its full development. They did an outstanding job. Thanks to the low-code technology of Oracle APEX and our software factory approach, we were able to deliver this project efficiently and accurately, with minimal impact on NBN’s other ongoing projects.”
Alignment with strategy and organizational culture
Johan Haelterman: “The major advantage for NBN is the choice of a streamlined technology stack, with the Oracle platform offering significant long-term benefits. Oracle technology itself enables us to shape our strategy by building high-performance SaaS solutions supported by API technology. On the other hand, it was equally important for NBN to find the right IT partner.”
The most important thing for us is to find a competent IT partner that aligns with our organizational culture, and that this partner helps realize the strategy of NBN: value creation, customer focus, efficiency, and competence. We have certainly found this match with Contribute!
Johan Haelterman, director of NBN (Belgian Standardization Institute)
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