Business development with openthebox

When we use openthebox for business development, we will search for new prospects through the Advanced Search tool.

Navigate to Advanced Search via the landing page or through Explore > Advanced Search.

When we open the Advanced Search tool, we see the entire population of Belgian companies. openthebox captures real-time data from companies, ensuring that you include all possible companies in your search.

On the left side of the tool, you will see more than 150 filters to work with. Depending on your type of license, some filters may be hidden; contact us if you wish to explore these further.

Filtering companies in Advanced Search

Your search starts in the left column, where you can use various filters to create a workable (prospecting) list.

Some possible filters include:

• Location: Where are your prospects located? 

If your Sales team, for example, works by province or region, you can quickly make this division here.

• Activity: What is the activity your prospects perform?

Here, you have the option to search using NACE codes or the actual activities of the companies. Since NACE codes do not always precisely describe the activity, we have added real activities. Based on website data, you can filter by keywords or a description of the activity, ensuring the companies on your list truly engage in that specific activity.

• Financial: Use basic filters to work with key figures or input other financial parameters from the (social) balance sheet for in-depth filtering. Some of these filters depend on your type of subscription.

Working with your prospecting list

Satisfied with the parameters you chose? You can now start working with your prospecting list.

openthebox offers several options to gather more information on the found companies, monitor these companies, or save your search. These options are located at the top right of the Advanced Search tool.

• Save this search

This saves not the companies, but the chosen parameters. openthebox will notify you as soon as new companies meet your selected filters, eliminating the need to repeat the search. By saving the search, you create an entity search where you can turn notifications on and off or adjust them according to your preferences.

• Save these companies

By saving the companies from your list, you create an entity group for which you will automatically receive notifications. If a company publishes a new annual report or a prospect appoints a new director, you will receive an email—handy for staying informed of changes with your prospects. You can easily turn notifications on or off or adjust them according to your preferences.

• Export

When you click Export, you will get the selected companies in an Excel document. This document contains a list of these companies, their basic information such as address and VAT number, and some financial key figures. Depending on your type of license, you may also have the option to add extra (financial) data from the (social) balance sheet.