AK Solution: “Mercell’s personal support? A solid 10 out of 10!”
AK Solution is a driven supplier, new to the world of public procurement. With no dedicated bid team or tender experts, owner Mehmet Ak decided to take charge himself. He taught himself everything about tenders and how to respond to them.
In this blog, Mehmet shares how Mercell’s tools and support help him turn his ambitions into results.
AK Solution: a rising supplier
It all started in 2013, when Mehmet Ak founded AK Solution. His company designs, installs, and maintains smart traffic systems — like street lighting and traffic control systems. What began as a small business has grown into a team of 20. Now, it’s time for the next step: growing and winning in the public sector.
International ambitions with Mercell
For years, AK Solution mainly worked as a subcontractor. But last year, Mehmet decided it was time to level up. His goal? To grow in both the Netherlands and Germany.
The first move was to start bidding on public tenders. “I want to understand the tendering world as well as I can,” says Mehmet. He started with a free programme, but quickly realised he needed a more professional solution. That’s when he found Mercell.
With Mercell, he’s confident about increasing his chances of winning international tenders — especially in Germany, which is a key market for him. “There’s a much bigger market in Germany than in the Netherlands.”
Getting started with Mercell
Before switching to Mercell, Mehmet had to search for new tenders manually. It took up a lot of time and energy — time he’d rather spend growing his business. The application process was tricky at times, as it wasn’t always clear what fields he needed to fill in, or how.
That changed at the start of 2025 when Mehmet found Mercell. “As a small business, I really appreciated the onboarding,” says Mehmet. “I even got help with the CPV codes. I sent over a list of work I do, and my contact at Mercell found the right codes. He did a great job.”
Mercell for small businesses
During a one-on-one onboarding, a Mercell colleague walked Mehmet through the system step by step. Any questions? He always had someone to reach out to. “The colleague from Mercell really supported me. It felt like having a reliable back-up,” he shares.
Now, Mehmet uses Mercell quickly and confidently. He especially enjoys the bidding process. The fields he needs to fill in are clearly marked, so he knows exactly where to focus. Mehmet shares:
There are many open tenders open at the moment. It keeps me busy, but I really enjoy it.”
The best part? No more manual searching. He no longer has to spend hours hunting for the right tenders. He now gets a filtered selection of relevant opportunities straight to his inbox. That saves time — time he can now spend writing stronger bids and running his business. A win-win.
Thanks to my bids, I’ve gained a better insight into the market. It’s important to analyse what’s happening and adjust your strategy accordingly. I work with partners as well. If I spot a tender that fits them, I’ll forward it. That way, we all help each other,” Mehmet shares.
From controlling traffic to controlling the market
Mehmet’s biggest dream is to grow internationally. He started out small, but now he’s aiming to become one of the leading names in traffic control systems and public lighting. How? By bidding on public tenders in both the Netherlands and Germany.
His advice is clear:
If you really want to grow your business, Mercell is a must. You can’t do it without it. If you’re aiming for bigger contracts, you need to look at tenders above the threshold. And Mercell’s personal support? A 10 out of 10. I’d definitely recommend the platform.”
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