What Take The Lead does

Take The Lead BV is a privately held Belgian e-commerce and digital commerce agency founded in 2016 and headquartered in Antwerp, operating with 11-50 employees. The firm delivers implementation and integration services for Shopware 6 (Gold Partner), Shopify and Shopify Plus, and Akeneo PIM (Silver Partner), complemented by custom Symfony-based web applications, microservices and API-first architectures, a Product Configurator (CPQ) with headless integration, and Storyblok CMS implementations. Its delivery model is project-based, encompassing fixed-price builds and time-and-materials engagements, with additional revenue from KMO-Portefeuille-registered training programs (Shopware, Akeneo, e-commerce strategy, bootcamps) and advisory services. Named enterprise customers span furniture retail (Ygo), building-materials distribution (BMN, BMB), equestrian manufacturing (Kentucky Horsewear), cookware (Demeyere), automotive glass (Saint Gobain Sekurit), youth tourism (Kampas, a non-profit marketplace processing 241,000+ transactions), and Belgian municipal healthcare (Zorgbedrijf Antwerpen), with cross-border delivery into the Netherlands.

Go-to-market is sales-led through consultative appointments and demos, supplemented by a technology-vendor partner ecosystem that supplies referrals and co-sell into Belgian and international accounts. The firm integrates commerce platforms with a broad ERP stack (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, SAP S/4HANA, Exact Online, Oracle NetSuite, Teamleader, E-meubel) typically via middleware such as Dell Boomi, and bundles complementary tooling across search (Algolia), digital asset management (Cloudinary), marketing automation (Klaviyo, Voyado, MailChimp), payments (Mollie, Adyen), and content (Storyblok). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year professional-services engagements invoiced net of VAT under standard 14-day payment terms. The company does not produce its own AI/ML models and instead surfaces partner-provided AI features (notably within Akeneo PIM) as part of the delivery portfolio.

Name

Take The Lead

Legal name

Take The Lead BV

Website

https://takethelead.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Take The Lead is a privately held Antwerp-based e-commerce agency that implements Shopware, Shopify, and Akeneo PIM platforms, builds custom Symfony web applications and product configurators, and integrates commerce stacks with ERP systems for enterprise and public-sector clients across Belgium and the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

E-commerce Implementation Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Lead Generation & Demand Generation (B2B/B2C) (BPAFAAAK)

Keywords

• E-commerce implementation services
• Composable commerce agency
• B2B order portal development
• PIM implementation services
• Digital transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Implementation Services: Project-based professional services for implementing e-commerce platforms (Shopware, Shopify), including webshop development, B2B portal development, and platform migrations. Revenue is generated through fixed-price projects and time-and-materials engagements.
2. Training Services: E-commerce training programs including Shopware user training, Akeneo PIM user training, E-commerce strategy training, and E-commerce bootcamps. Registered training provider for KMO-Portefeuille subsidies in Belgium.
3. Custom Application Development: Development of bespoke web applications, SaaS products, marketplaces, and business process automation solutions using Symfony and modern architectures. Project-based billing.
4. Advisory and Consulting Services: Strategic e-commerce consulting and advisory services including digital transformation guidance, e-commerce strategy development, and technology roadmap planning. Provided as part of engagement packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Take The Lead is an e-commerce agency that helps organizations launch, optimize and scale their online business by combining strategic advisory with deep technical implementation. Core offerings include Shopware 6 and Shopify (Plus) e-commerce platform implementations, Akeneo PIM deployments, B2C webshop and B2B self-service order portal development, custom web applications built on Symfony, product configurators (CPQ), Storyblok CMS-based lead generation sites, and e-commerce replatforming with ERP integrations via middleware such as Boomi.

Product overview

Take The Lead is an e-commerce agency offering a portfolio of implementation services and solutions rather than a single unified product. The core offerings center on e-commerce platform implementations using Shopify (Plus) and Shopware 6, complemented by Akeneo PIM for product information management. Supporting modules include Storyblok CMS for content/lead generation, custom product configurators (CPQ), and bespoke web applications built with Symfony. The portfolio also encompasses B2C webshop development, B2B self-service order portals connected to ERP systems, and e-commerce replatforming/migration services. Additionally, the company offers training programs (Shopware, Akeneo, e-commerce strategy, bootcamps) and advisory services, all registered under the Flemish KMO-Portefeuille subsidy program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shopware 6 Implementation E-commerce platform implementation for Shopware 6 combining B2C and B2B capabilities on a modern API-first architecture with native CMS and integrations to ERP and PIM systems; targeted at retailers, brands, wholesalers and manufacturers.
• Shopify & Shopify Plus Implementation E-commerce platform implementation services for Shopify and Shopify Plus, providing B2C and B2B webshop solutions with extensive API integrations, POS capabilities and access to the Shopify app ecosystem for scaling merchants.
• Akeneo PIM Implementation Product Information Management implementation using Akeneo (Silver Partner), providing a single source of truth for product data with centralized enrichment, translation and multi-channel distribution to ERP, CMS and e-commerce platforms.
• B2C Webshop Development B2C e-commerce webshop development with SEO-optimized landing pages, responsive design, conversion optimization, loyalty programs and integrations with inventory, CRM, ERP and accounting systems.
• B2B Self-Service Order Portal ERP-connected B2B customer portal enabling self-service ordering for business customers. Features customer-specific pricing, role-based multi-user access, order dashboards, product configurators and ERP integrations (SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Exact, E-meubel, Teamleader, Oracle NetSuite).
• E-commerce Replatforming Migration and modernization of e-commerce platforms to an API-first, MACH composable architecture with omnichannel capabilities, internationalization, geo-location personalization and CDN optimization.
• Custom Web Applications Development of bespoke SaaS products, marketplaces and applications supporting essential business processes, seamlessly integrated with existing IT systems and delivered with microservices architecture and change management support.
• Symfony Custom Application Development Senior-level custom web application development on the Symfony framework using SOLID principles, Domain-Driven Design, unit testing, BDD, queues and caching, including microservices and API development.
• Product Configurator (CPQ) Configure-Price-Quote solution that guides customers through multi-step selection of complex product ranges, integrates with ERP and PIM, can be embedded headlessly and includes an administrative application for non-technical content management.
• Storyblok CMS Implementation Implementation of the Storyblok headless CMS for creation and management of multilingual, SEO-optimized lead generation landing pages, with powerful APIs for distributing content across websites, webshops and other applications.
• Shopware User Training User training program for the Shopware Commerce platform, registered as eligible training under the Flemish KMO-Portefeuille subsidy (DVO 244.258).
• Akeneo PIM User Training User training program for the Akeneo PIM platform, registered as eligible training under the Flemish KMO-Portefeuille subsidy (DVO 244.258).
• E-commerce Strategy Training E-commerce strategy training program helping organizations develop their digital commerce roadmap, registered as eligible training under the Flemish KMO-Portefeuille subsidy (DVO 244.258).
• E-commerce Bootcamp Intensive e-commerce bootcamp training program delivered as a structured cohort experience, registered as eligible training under the Flemish KMO-Portefeuille subsidy (DVO 244.258).
• E-commerce Advisory Services Strategic e-commerce advisory services for developing digital commerce strategies and identifying actions to complete a client's e-commerce landscape, registered as eligible advisory under the Flemish KMO-Portefeuille program (DVA 244.259).

Quantifiable outcome

• Kampas platform processed 241,435+ successful transactions via electronic wallet system
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ShopwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationShopware Gold Partner status. Take The Lead is certified and recognized for expertise in implementing Shopware e-commerce platforms. The partnership enables deep technical knowledge, priority support, and co-marketing opportunities. Shopware is described as the only platform that combines B2C and B2B capabilities, built on modern architecture suitable for composable commerce.
• AkeneocoreTechnology or IntegrationAkeneo Silver Partner. Take The Lead is certified for implementing Akeneo PIM (Product Information Management) solutions. The partnership provides access to extensive resources, training, and support from Akeneo for delivering high-quality PIM solutions to clients managing complex product data.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationTrusted Shopify partner for building and scaling e-commerce solutions. Take The Lead helps clients implement Shopify and Shopify Plus platforms with custom integrations, POS systems, and omnichannel capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Valtech: Global digital agency with strong composable commerce, PIM (Akeneo partner), and Adobe/SAP commerce capabilities. Represents the larger incumbent Take The Lead is positioned to either partner with or be acquired by as it scales.
• Dept: Global digital agency with a large Benelux presence delivering e-commerce, PIM, and digital transformation at enterprise scale. Represents the incumbent take The Lead competes against for larger accounts.
• Emakina: Pan-European digital agency headquartered in Belgium, with significant e-commerce, PIM, and digital transformation capabilities. Competes for the same Belgian enterprise accounts at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Bagaar: Belgian digital agency building custom digital products, e-commerce platforms, and applications for ambitious brands. Similar size band and Belgian base; comparable Symfony/custom engineering heritage.
• iO (formerly Intracto): Large Dutch/Belgian digital agency with a strong e-commerce and digital transformation practice, serving enterprise clients across the Benelux. Comparable technology stack focus (Shopware, Adobe Commerce, headless) but materially larger headcount.
• Adwise: Dutch digital agency combining e-commerce implementation (Shopware, Shopify) with performance marketing, martech, and data services. Comparable breadth of offering and B2B/B2C client mix in the Dutch market.
• Bothrs: Belgian digital agency delivering e-commerce, custom software, and digital transformation projects for mid-market and enterprise clients. Overlapping GTM motion (consultative sales, partner ecosystem) and Belgian talent market.
• TRIMM: Dutch digital agency specializing in e-commerce, PIM, and content-driven commerce implementations. Similar partner-channel GTM (Shopware/Shopify partner) and comparable mid-market enterprise customer profile.
• Elcom: Belgian digital commerce agency offering e-commerce platform implementations, PIM, and custom development across the Benelux market. Closest like-for-like competitor in size, geography, and Shopware/PIM-led service portfolio.

Regional players

• Happiness Brussels: Belgian digital and creative agency with a commerce and digital transformation practice. Regional peer operating in the same Belgian talent market and bidding for similar Flemish enterprise clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/taketheleadbe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Take The Lead