How Mister Matériaux uses Allianz Trade pay to power growth

Founded in 2019 near Lyon, France, Mister Matériaux is an online hardware retailer specializing in products for construction professionals, such as electrical supplies, plumbing, tools and personal protective equipment. At a time when B2B e-commerce is booming and the risk of unpaid invoices continues to threaten the financial stability of businesses, Mister Matériaux chose to turn towards Allianz Trade pay  in order to offer its customers the payment terms they need to run their business, while protecting itself against the risk of non-payment. We spoke with Lionel Moutouh, President of Mister Matériaux.

How does your platform work, and why are payment terms so crucial for your customers?

Lionel Moutouh: In the construction sector, business relationships have always been based on trust. The contractor places orders from their usual supplier, the order is delivered quickly, and then they settle at the end of the month, according to an arrangement built on reputation and loyalty. This model, deeply rooted in traditional trade, seemed difficult to transfer into e-commerce.

On top of that, construction projects set their own pace: supplies are purchased before the work is invoiced, which creates a cash flow gap. The 30-day payment is thus not just a commercial advantage, but essential to the smooth running of a business. Not offering payment terms would undermine contractors; granting it without proper checks would expose the merchant to the risk of unpaid invoices.

For Mister Matériaux, offering deferred payment online was therefore a must. Our website, designed for construction professionals, combines the simplicity of e-commerce with the expectations of traditional trade: personalized advice, immediate availability and deferred payment. Contractors are primarily looking for speed, reliability, and the option to pay at the end of the month, just as they always have.

How does Allianz Trade support you with your e-commerce platform?

Our aim was clear: offer a smooth purchasing journey, enable 30-day deferred payment which is vital for our customers, all while protecting ourselves against non-payment risk. If we had only offered an upfront payment it would have held back growth; granting payment terms without any safety measures would have put us at risk. Mister Matériaux therefore had to find the right balance: extending credit in a thoughtful manner.

This is why we approached Allianz Trade to find out more about Allianz Trade pay. We were not looking for an off-the-shelf tool. Rather, we wanted a solution that understood our business, and Allianz Trade delivered that.

Allianz Trade pay is built on a complete technological architecture. A digital “Know Your Buyer”, onboarding module means we can instantly verify a buyer’s identity. This verification is based on advanced technologies such as open banking, ID document checks and Allianz Trade’s extensive database, ensuring fast and reliable assessment. As soon as a transaction is made and the buyer’s solvency is verified, the trade credit insurance cover is activated, guaranteeing payment to the seller even if the buyer defaults. The user experience is also optimized; fully integrated via API into the Mister Matériaux website, processing is automated and completely transparent.

How would you describe your collaboration with Allianz Trade?

Our teams took a gradual approach. Each observation cycle allowed us to refine the model: analyzing purchasing behavior, identifying unusual cases, adjusting parameters. The algorithm has integrated concrete criteria such as seasonality, order frequency or the pace of construction projects, so that we can reflect the situation on the ground as closely as possible. A company can be financially sound while having irregular cash flows. That’s just how construction projects work – it’s not necessarily a sign of risk.

This collaboration is built on a strong relationship and close, continuous support. This closeness has been essential to ensure our needs were understood and taken into account quickly. The Allianz Trade teams were very responsive with each adjustment.

You have been using the solution for 5 years. What are your takeaways?

After five years of use, the results speak for themselves. We have recorded only five unpaid invoices in five years – so virtually none – while enjoying stronger cash flow stability and an almost total acceptance rate for deferred payments. This has allowed Mister Matériaux to grow with confidence and continue expanding its product offering.

We are now rolling out the “pay” module of the Allianz Trade pay solution, an extension that will automate the entire “order-to-cash” cycle, from order placement through to payment. This extension will make it easier to manage reminders andcollect funds, and simplify the reconciliation with ERP systems. At the payment due date, a payment link will be sent, followed by an automatic reconciliation of the funds. In the event of non-payment, reminders and a collections claim will be triggered, and no new payment terms will be granted.

An automatic reminder sent at the right time, with a simplified payment link, is much smoother and more respectful of the customer relationship. Moreover, automating this process will free up time for what truly creates value: understanding the customer, anticipating their projects, recommending the right products and providing technical advice. That is where the real difference lies in the construction sector, not in chasing invoices.