

The internet is a gigantic repository of publicly available data that can be interesting to collect, store and analyze for various reasons. If you have to manually navigate to a page each time and select the necessary information, it takes a lot of work. The solution is a web scraper that collects the data automatically. To support customers in this, ACA can count on two young acquisitions: Robbe and Shane.
The ideal solution to collect data from websites is to use an API. Unfortunately that is not always possible. For example, an API can be paid, only available to a specific target group, and sometimes the information provider simply does not have an API. That is why you can use a web scraper, a bot that navigates to pages, interprets the HTML (source code) and extracts the necessary data.
Python is an excellent programming language to build a web scraper that can extract millions of data points automatically very quickly, which of course saves you a lot of manual work hours. You can then use the data for various purposes, such as lead generation, market research, detecting course changes, monitoring competitors or trends, data recovery, etc.
ACA has a lot of experience with these types of projects and can also count on young employees who have studied the functionalities of a web scraper during their training:
1. Meet Robbe Van den Hove

During his IT studies, Robbe chose a web scraper as the main subject of his bachelor thesis. He built an application that closely monitors the price market of the crypto world. The data collected by the web scraper is analyzed to detect potential changes. The tool then sends a notification to the user of the program, so that he is immediately aware of any changes in the market.
2. Meet Shane Gastmans

Shane also gained experience with web scrapers during his bachelor's degree. During his internship at the ACA Group, he built an internal tool to find prospects for a certain technology. The application uses web scrapers to extract information from multiple sources, after which the data is processed and enriched by the application. The results appear in a clear interface.
Thanks to Shane's creation, our sales people today have to spend less time searching and collecting information about customers and prospects.
Like Robbe, Shane joined the ACA team a while ago and is now helping our customers. 🙌
During our internship at ACA we unlocked the full potential of the web though webscraping, and learned that webscraping is not just a technical skill, but also a strategic tool that can unlock new opportunities and help make informed business decisions.
— Robbe & Shane Robbe & Shane , Python Developers at ACA Group
Want to join our team?
Are web scrapers also your specialty? Do you speak Python fluently? Or do you have another superpower in IT? Then be sure to check out our vacancies and maybe you will soon be part of the ACA Group as well!


What others have also read


Wooho, ACA Group proudly clinches a spot in Belgium's Top 10 Best Workplaces™ ! Despite our certification in 2021 with an outstanding 87% employee satisfaction rating, we never stop striving for perfection. That’s why we took the opportunity and consulted our awesome team again last fall. Once again, we asked for their insightful feedback to elevate the ACA experience even further. Most importantly, it was their voices that evaluated our culture through the in-depth survey. Besides questioning how they experience our values such as respect , fairness , credibility , pride , and camaraderie ,... they also had the opportunity to anonymously submit comments on how we could enhance ourselves as a workplace. We take this feedback seriously, turning it into concrete actions and reflecting on ways to improve the overall experience of our employees. But what exactly makes ACA Group one of the Best Workplaces in Belgium? We conducted an extensive Culture Audit to examine the culture within our organization, our core values and our business strategy. These were our findings. Employee voice matters: At ACA, we highly value the insights of our ACA family. Through comprehensive surveys and anonymous feedback, we continuously refine our workplace culture to ensure an enriching experience for all. We actively seek input on all well-being initiatives, adapting policies to evolving needs and trends. We encourage active employee participation in decision-making processes. Wellbeing at the core: For us, professional excellence goes hand in hand with personal health. Our structured well-being policy integrates mental health programs, fitness activities and initiatives promoting holistic well-being. Furthermore, our policies encourage work-life balance, flexible working hours and the use of recreational spaces in offices. This is one of the best companies I have worked for. -Anonymous quote from our survey Dynamic engagement: We foster open communication and dynamic engagement through regular workshops, training sessions and our internal gamification platform (or how we call it: “our Ambassador Community”): Sociabble . We're profiling ourselves as people-centric, and emphasize the importance of both physical and mental well-being. This approach is reinforced through team events, team-building activities and celebrations of team successes. Culture feedback: Transparency and open feedback are fundamental to our company culture. Pulse surveys and a sounding board group provide regular avenues for employee input, facilitating continuous improvement. Recognition and appreciation: We believe in celebrating achievements. Platforms like Bonusly allow us to give a digital "pat on the back", and acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of our hardworking team members. ACA takes good care of its people. -Anonymous quote from our survey Inclusivity and personal development: Our commitment to inclusivity and personal development is unwavering. From day one, our onboarding journey provides a warm welcome and thorough preparation for new team members. Regular check-ins and an introductory meeting with our CEO contribute to a supportive and open culture. Besides that, we have a robust role and competence framework in place, in which we encourage a coaching mindset and prioritize the growth and development of every ACA member. A mentorship program and our internal ACAdemy further support learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Sustainability and accountability: Our commitment to being a “Great Place To Work” is an ethical responsibility contributing to long-term success and sustainability. Our Sustainability Charter reflects our dedication to environmental responsibility, diversity and sustainable business practices. Global standards of excellence: We actively engage in sustainability efforts, aligning with global standards such as the VCDO Charter and the EcoVadis framework. This reaffirms our commitment to sustainable excellence and ethical responsibility. Join the ACA Family! As we celebrate our achievement as one of Belgium's Top 10 Best Workplaces™, we invite you to join our journey towards excellence! Whether you're seeking a rewarding career opportunity or exploring partnerships with a company committed to sustainability and employee well-being. Contact us today to learn more about how you can be part of our thriving community and experience the ACA difference firsthand. 🥳 “One of the core qualities of ACA Group is their ability to – always - put people first. They prove to be a true ‘people-centric’ company, as they show a great focus on Employee Wellbeing and Sustainable Governance. The involvement of employees is being encouraged at different levels of their business and they truly believe that their workforce elevates the company to greater heights.” — Silke Meulemans , Customer Success manager at GPtW @ Vlerick Business School
Read moreWant to dive deeper into this topic?
Get in touch with our experts today. They are happy to help!

Want to dive deeper into this topic?
Get in touch with our experts today. They are happy to help!

Want to dive deeper into this topic?
Get in touch with our experts today. They are happy to help!

Want to dive deeper into this topic?
Get in touch with our experts today. They are happy to help!

