What Novation does

Novation NV is a Belgian web and web application development agency headquartered in Houthalen, Limburg, founded in 2008. The firm specializes in Drupal CMS, Drupal Commerce, and Symfony-based solutions, building corporate websites, e-commerce webshops, custom web applications, and mobile applications primarily for Flemish small and medium-sized enterprises. Service scope extends to ERP, CRM, payment, and logistics integrations (Odoo, Exact Online, SAP Business, Carfac M, Mollie, ShopWeDo, HubSpot), plus AnySurfer-certified WCAG 2.2 Level AA accessibility builds. Customer logos span government (De Vlaamse Waterweg, Kind & Samenleving), tourism (Visit Limburg), manufacturing (HC Joints, Brighteye, Barù), healthcare (ProScan, ZOL Hospital), non-profit (HARS, Symfoon), and local SMBs.

The business operates on a sales-led, project-based professional services model with quote-driven pricing and multi-year contracts. Go-to-market relies on direct outreach through the company website, online appointment booking, phone, and a client referral program, supported by content marketing (blog), SEO, and participation in Feweb and Odoo community events. A registered KMO-portefeuille advisor status (DV.A236096) lets clients claim up to 30% subsidy on advisory services, while VLAIO covers up to €4,500 for qualifying multilingual internationalization projects, effectively subsidizing client acquisition.

The team of 16 experts is led by co-owner Mark Lens, with Nicky handling sales and Lies managing projects. Differentiators include the only Limburg-based AnySurfer-certified builder designation, Feweb Accessibility Champ of the Year 2022, Top 100 Best Digital Agencies in Belgium 2024, and operational sustainability credentials (CO2-neutral office, electric fleet since 2019, 86% paper reduction since 2021). AI is deployed in client delivery (content generation, translations, contact-request triage, ZOL Hospital search) and explored via AI Meetup Limburg, but is not a standalone product. The company remains privately held with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Novation

Legal name

Novation NV

Website

https://novation.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Novation NV is a Houthalen, Belgium-based Drupal development agency (16 staff) building websites, e-commerce shops, and custom web applications for Flemish SMEs, with deep AnySurfer accessibility and ERP integration expertise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Web Development Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

DevOps Consulting & Transformation (BPAEAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Quality Engineering & Test Automation (QE/QA) (BPAEAFAJ)

Keywords

• Drupal web development
• Custom web applications
• E-commerce integrations
• Accessibility compliance services
• Mobile app development

Headquarters

HQ city

Houthalen

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Website Development: Custom Drupal website development services including design, development, and deployment. Pricing is quote-based, project-scoped.
2. Webshop / E-commerce Development: Drupal Commerce-based webshop development with custom features, integrations with payment providers (Mollie), ERP systems, and logistics partners.
3. Custom Web Applications: Tailored web applications built to automate business processes, including quote calculators, order management systems, and customer portals. Revenue is project-based with scope defined per engagement.
4. Mobile Applications: Custom mobile applications leveraging device capabilities such as camera, GPS, offline functionality, and push notifications for business process optimization.
5. Analysis and Consulting: Digital consulting services including project analysis, digital strategy, and advice on digital transformation. Provided as advisory services.
6. Integrations: Custom software integrations connecting websites, webshops, and applications with existing ERP, CRM, or accounting systems such as Odoo, Exact Online, SAP Business, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Novation is a Belgian web development agency that builds custom Drupal websites, Drupal Commerce webshops, bespoke web applications, and mobile applications for small and medium-sized enterprises (KMO's). Its services span project analysis and digital consulting, custom software integrations with ERP/CRM/accounting systems, and AnySurfer accessibility-certified website builds. All engagements are project-based, quote-driven, and delivered end-to-end from design through launch and ongoing support.

Product overview

Novation is a digital agency providing a full-stack of web development services built primarily on the Drupal CMS platform. Its core offerings span custom Drupal websites, Drupal Commerce webshops, and bespoke web applications. These are complemented by mobile applications, digital consulting, and custom software integrations connecting client websites to ERPs (Odoo, Exact Online, Carfac M), payment providers (Mollie), accounting tools, and logistics platforms. Novation also offers AnySurfer accessibility services and uses its Drupal expertise to deliver multilingual, WCAG-compliant digital experiences. The portfolio includes projects for clients across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, government, and non-profit sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drupal Website Development Custom Drupal-powered corporate websites built for scalability, security, and multilingual support. Includes responsive design, SEO optimization, accessibility compliance, and self-service content management for the client.
• Drupal Commerce Webshop Development E-commerce solutions built on the open-source Drupal Commerce platform, including product configuration, order processing, payment gateway integration (Mollie), and ERP synchronization for B2B and B2C retailers.
• Custom Web Application Development Tailored web applications that automate business processes such as online pricing calculators, product configurators, order management portals, and customer self-service systems.
• Mobile Application Development Custom mobile applications leveraging smartphone hardware (camera, GPS), with offline functionality and push notification delivery for business process optimization and end-user engagement.
• Analysis & Consulting Digital consulting services including project analysis, digital strategy, and advice on business process automation and software selection. Offered as subsidized advisory through the KMO-portefeuille program (covering up to 30% of advisory costs).
• Software Integration Services Custom integration services connecting Drupal websites and webshops with third-party software such as ERP systems (Odoo, Exact Online, Carfac M, SAP Business), accounting tools, CRM, payment providers (Mollie), logistics platforms (ShopWeDo), and HR software (CV Warehouse).
• AnySurfer Accessibility Certification Services Website accessibility services achieving WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance and AnySurfer certification, with free accessibility audits offered to non-profit organizations. Novation is the only Limburg-based recognized AnySurfer website builder.

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies can save up to €4,500 through VLAIO subsidies for multilingual website projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HARS (vzw)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro-bono partnership supporting youth with disabilities through art. Novation developed and maintains the HARS charity webshop free of charge, and employees match personal donations euro-for-euro. The partnership includes joint events (art auctions raising €10,200 in 2024) and monthly meetings on digital needs.
• OVWB (Ondernemers voor een Warm België)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support children from disadvantaged families. Novation contributed design work (logo, branding, banners, brochure), website development with custom jotform integration, and donated old laptops.
• AnySurfercoreTechnology or IntegrationAnySurfer is the Belgian accessibility certification body. Novation is the only Limburg-based company recognized as an AnySurfer website builder. The partnership involves training developers in accessibility standards, conducting free accessibility audits for non-profits, and building websites to WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards.
• FewebcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeweb is the Belgian digital agency association. Novation is an active member participating in sustainability and accessibility working groups. The partnership involves attending industry events, sharing knowledge, and contributing to industry standards development.
• OdoocoreTechnology or IntegrationOdoo is an open-source ERP suite. Novation provides custom Odoo integrations for clients, synchronizing product information, inventory, orders, customer data, and pricing between websites/webshops and Odoo systems. Novation stays current with Odoo developments (attended Odoo 19 launch in Brussels).
• Exact OnlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationExact Online is a business software suite. Novation integrates Drupal Commerce webshops with Exact Online for automated workflows, real-time inventory management, and centralized customer data.
• ShopWeDominorOthersLogistics partner for Barú's e-commerce operations, integrated with the Drupal Commerce webshop for order fulfillment.
• LeadinfominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeadinfo is a B2B marketing intelligence platform. Novation is a certified partner, offering Leadinfo integration services to clients.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• iO (formerly Intracto): Large Benelux full-service digital agency with Drupal, e-commerce, and marketing technology capabilities. Overlaps with Novation on Drupal builds and integrations but at significantly greater scale and across multiple geographies.
• The Reference: Large Belgian full-service digital agency with Drupal expertise among broader capabilities. Represents a much larger incumbent competing for the upper end of the Belgian mid-market accounts that Novation targets, with deeper teams and broader service portfolio.

Direct peers

• ONTO: Belgian digital agency offering web development, e-commerce, and integrations for SMEs. Comparable service breadth (website + webshop + custom apps) and Belgian SME target market.
• Lemento: Belgian Drupal web and e-commerce agency. Similar size and customer profile to Novation, building Drupal websites and Drupal Commerce shops for Flemish and Belgian SMEs.
• Optiek: Belgian Drupal and digital agency serving SMEs with websites, webshops, and integrations. Competes for the same Flemish SME web-development RFPs as Novation.
• Dropsolid: Belgian Drupal-focused digital agency offering Drupal websites, Drupal Commerce, and Acquia cloud hosting. Directly comparable as a Drupal-native agency serving Belgian and European mid-market clients, and a more frequent competitor on Drupal RFPs in Flanders than Novation.
• Twice: Belgian digital agency with Drupal, e-commerce, and custom application offerings. Comparable SME customer profile and service-line breadth to Novation.
• Spilberg: Belgian digital agency specializing in Drupal, Laravel, and Symfony. Overlaps with Novation on the Drupal/Symfony stack and Belgian SME target segment, making it a natural head-to-head competitor on similar project scopes.
• Craftsmen: Belgian Drupal agency focused on custom Drupal and web application development for SMEs and mid-market. Comparable service offering (Drupal builds, integrations) and Belgian SME customer overlap with Novation.
• Kraftvoll: Belgian Drupal and digital agency. Comparable on Drupal-centric builds and Belgian SME/mid-market customer base, with overlapping service lines on website and e-commerce development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WebdesignNovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novation_2
• Instagraminstagram.com/novationbe

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Novation