Elevating global railway industry intelligence with Valona

Introduction

MAFEX, the Spanish Railway Association, is a vital hub for the railway industry, representing nearly 120 member companies that account for 83% of Spain’s railway exports. The organization encompasses all sectors of the value chain, including manufacturers, technology providers, and service companies.

Mr. Aitor Ballestero Barrutia leads the Market Intelligence efforts at MAFEX as the Head of Business Development and Strategic Intelligence. He adapts services and projects to meet the needs of their member companies while identifying new collaboration opportunities to promote the development and evolution of the local railway sector.

The challenge: Information gaps and limited insights

Upon joining MAFEX in mid-2021, Mr. Ballestero discovered a significant issue: only 10% of member companies received regular market intelligence updates. He recognized the need to deliver fresh insights to all member organizations.

“As an association, our mission is to keep our member companies informed about international markets—this is vital for their growth and a priority to us,” Mr. Ballestero explains.

Previously, MAFEX had faced limited internal research capabilities and fragmented information sources. Many member organizations lacked essential information about global market developments, regulations, and technological trends. A more scalable solution was required to address these critical gaps.

MAFEX’s high-priority targets for their new intelligence solution:

1. Timely and relevant data: Access to real-time insights from global and local markets.
2. Centralized repository: An accessible hub for external insights and diverse reports.
3. Scalable support: Empowering one intelligence professional to serve almost 120 member organizations.

Strategic solution: A comprehensive Valona approach

To address these challenges, MAFEX implemented the Valona platform to transform intelligence delivery for their members. Valona is a centralized market and competitive intelligence solution with access to real-time insights like international rail news, market trends, and strategic insights to support member organizations in their strategic decisions.

Today, all MAFEX member organizations can access Valona, complemented by a valuable daily newsletter that highlights the most recent global and local insights, economic and competitor outlooks, as well as sustainability developments.

“With Valona, we enable our member companies to quickly understand what’s happening in their industry, ensuring our key stakeholders receive critical updates as events unfold.”

Mr. Aitor BallestEro Barrutia, Head of Business Development and Strategic Intelligence at Mafex

Valona Newsletters, another key feature of the platform, allows Mr. Ballestero to curate and distribute monthly strategic digests that highlight the most critical developments in the industry. This “hands-free” approach ensures that even members who don’t actively access the platform receive vital information directly in their inboxes.

“We look at insights such as rail strategies, investment plans, and national projects globally. With Valona, we enable our member companies to quickly understand what’s happening in their industry, ensuring our key stakeholders receive critical updates as events unfold,” Mr. Ballestero states.

Impact: Empowering strategic decision-making

The results of having Valona as MAFEX’s intelligence partner have been remarkable. “Valona has transformed our ability to deliver strategic intelligence,” Mr. Ballestero notes.

Member companies no longer need to spend their limited time searching for relevant insights; they benefit from a consistent flow of actionable intelligence that improves decision-making and strategic planning. The platform has simplified how members stay updated, providing them with daily updates and curated monthly insights.

“Having a single source of reliable and high-quality information facilitates strategic planning and collaboration across our member organizations.”

Mr. Aitor BallestEro Barrutia, Head of Business Development and Strategic Intelligence at Mafex

“Having a single source of reliable and high-quality information facilitates strategic planning and collaboration across our member organizations,” he emphasizes.

Mr. Ballestero emphasizes that by eliminating the manual work involved in intelligence gathering, valuable time has been freed up for business development activities, such as organizing business delegations and generating detailed market reports.

Next steps

MAFEX journey with Valona continues to evolve, with plans to increase platform adoption and expand coverage of emerging technological trends and innovations.

By supporting members with critical market information, the association aims to further solidify its position as a strategic partner to member organizations. Valona was a top-rated benefit in a recent membership survey. “The Valona platform has become essential for our operations, allowing us to support our members with timely, actionable insights,” Aitor Ballestero concludes.

Despite operating with a single intelligence professional, the association now delivers world-class market intelligence that helps its members navigate the complexities of the global railway industry.