Case

AI
SEA

How we used AI to accelerate the international growth of Aanhangwagendirect.nl

Online shop for trailers and trailer parts

Aanhangwagendirect.nl has been the leading specialist in trailers, parts and accessories for many years. Once the Dutch market was firmly established, it was time for the next step: expanding abroad. Germany and France became the first destinations, each with its own online shop. Austria was also served from Germany, whilst Wallonia was served from France.

Expanding internationally meant literally starting from scratch. There was no turnover, no historical data and no certainty that there would be sufficient demand. That is why we developed an SEA strategy in which AI and automation did the heavy lifting, whilst we tailored our approach to the language, culture and trust levels of each country.

Objectives

The ambition was clear: to grow internationally, but in a profitable way. Not to maximise turnover at any cost, but to achieve sustainable growth with healthy margins. That is why we set out specific objectives in advance:

  • Profitable international revenue growth within 12 months
  • A higher ROAS, whilst maintaining profit margins

A fixed media budget was deliberately avoided. In the initial phase, the campaigns were given the freedom to collect data, test search behaviour and explore the market. Once sufficient insights were available, the focus shifted to efficiency and return on investment.

Our approach

In addition, we utilised Google’s International Growth Programme. Through this programme, we gained access to Export Insights for Germany and France, which enabled us to map out market opportunities, search behaviour and competition. We combined the insights from the programme with our own market research and a comprehensive compatibility check of the product range. We also utilised insights gained from participating in valuable Expert Circles. In this way, we laid a solid foundation for a successful launch in both markets.

The biggest challenge turned out to be not the technology, but trust. A literal translation of the online shop was simply not enough to achieve this. In France, the initial domain failed to gain sufficient traction. We therefore opted for a new, locally oriented domain, supported by stronger reviews and content that better resonated with the French target audience.

The differences between the two markets also called for a tailored approach. German customers were found to place particular value on delivery reliability and certifications, whilst in France, price and service carried greater weight. We translated these insights into keywords, adverts and landing pages.

Performance Max and ‘ Shopping ’ formed the basis of the campaigns for Aanhangwagendirect.nl, supplemented by Search to also reach the exploratory audience. AI was used to efficiently translate and optimise product descriptions for each market. Using GA4, Looker Studio and server-side tagging, we continuously monitored CPA, ROAS and margin, enabling us to make swift adjustments where necessary.

Result

This approach delivered strong results within twelve months. Conversion value grew by 86.83% in Germany and as much as 246.09% in France. At the same time, ROAS improved by 7.75% in Germany and 9.11% in France. The CPA also fell in both countries by 6.15% and 6.65% respectively, comfortably exceeding the pre-set target of at least 5%.

As a result, Aanhangwagendirect.nl managed to build up two new markets profitably in a short space of time, without the need for a larger media budget. This required particular flexibility in France. By adapting the domain and content in good time and making smart use of AI for both translations and campaign management, a scalable approach was created that made international growth genuinely profitable.

86%

Conversion value growth in Germany

246%

Conversion value growth in France

-6,4%

Average CPA reduction in both countries

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