How Juwelen Vander Avort modernized their jewelry business
A 35-year-old family jewelry store in Leuven moved from outdated manual processes to a modern, integrated business management system. Here is how, and what changed.
A family business, three decades in Leuven's historic center
Established in 1985, Juwelen Vander Avort has served customers in Leuven's historic center for over 35 years. The family business specializes in engagement rings, custom jewelry and professional repair services.
In 2018, Maxime Vander Avort began taking over operations from his parents. As the business grew, he recognized that manual processes and outdated software were limiting efficiency and affecting the quality of customer service.
Three bottlenecks were slowing the store down
Fifteen years earlier, the store had replaced handwritten records with a CRM system. It helped at first, but the software aged: limited updates, missing features and data that never quite synced. During peak seasons like Christmas and Valentine's Day, staff productivity suffered.
A question about a specific piece often meant multiple system checks and phone calls to suppliers, because inventory data was inconsistent. One inquiry could take 15 to 20 minutes.
Peak seasons made these delays hit time-sensitive purchases hardest.
The repair atelier sits across town, so tracking a repair meant manual coordination between locations. Staff often could not answer progress questions on the spot and had to check with the atelier physically.
Response times suffered, especially for urgent repairs.
During busy periods, locating ordered items was slow because tracking between delivery, storage and display was inconsistent. Staff efficiency and customer wait times both paid the price.
Quick pickups during peak season were the hardest moment of the week.
Why Maxime chose Gem Logic
Jewelry is a personal trade. Vander Avort competes on service: custom pieces, and regulars who return to have their jewelry cleaned and maintained. Maxime needed software that strengthened that service instead of getting in its way.
In the past ten years, online retail has grown significantly. Maxime wanted to expand online while keeping physical and digital inventory perfectly synchronized. That meant one system for everything, built for the jewelry trade.
After evaluating the options, he chose Gem Logic for its industry-specific features and integrated approach.
While we were doing well before implementing Gem Logic, we knew that the limitations of our old processes would eventually catch up to us. Gem Logic is all about taking the next step and improving upon what we've built. It's a tool for unlocking new opportunities and expanding our horizons.
What changed after the switch
After implementing Gem Logic, the store saw immediate gains in operational efficiency and customer service quality.
Availability questions are now answered immediately with real-time inventory data, accurate stock levels and honest delivery estimates.
Repair status is tracked in real time across locations. Customers get accurate updates on progress and completion, which improved satisfaction and referrals.
Order location and fulfillment became integrated. Peak season now runs smoothly, with shorter search times and a better pickup experience.
Automated processes and real-time data removed the daily management worries.
Faster response times and accurate information improved customer satisfaction.
Modern infrastructure that supports continued growth and expansion.
A webshop that stays in sync with the safe
Vander Avort's online storefront pulls from the same stock as the counter. A piece sold in-store disappears online automatically, so the team never reconciles inventory by hand.
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