As Belgium’s association for authors, composers, and publishers, Sabam protects creative rights and ensures fair compensation when works are used. While rooted in culture, Sabam’s operations increasingly depend on digital services to serve customers and partners efficiently.
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Preparing for digital transformation
Two major initiatives, Boost Customer (a self-service portal for member registration, profile management, and subscriptions) and the Cultura portal (a streamlined platform for cultural centers to submit music usage), required secure, intuitive, and scalable access. Since the previous IAM solution was based on legacy technologies and did not align with current industry standards for security and compliance, Sabam needed to build one from scratch to support thousands of users and enable future growth.
The challenge: from legacy to flexibility
Sabam’s large user database lacked centralised IAM, automated registration, or CRM integration. Authentication was fragmented and manual. Internal IAM expertise was limited, so they sought a partner who could translate technical possibilities into functional realities.
Advisory first: finding the right fit together
IdentIT began with collaborative workshops to map priorities, user experience goals, and integration needs. A tool-agnostic approach compared multiple IAM solutions on flexibility, customisation, support, and long-term fit. Curity emerged as the best match, aligning with Sabam’s Azure Kubernetes expertise and offering strong multibranding and modern authentication support.
“What appealed to us was that IdentIT didn’t push a single tool,” says Mathieu, IT Delivery Manager at Sabam. “They took the time to understand our needs and priorities, and presented us with several options to evaluate together. That really made a difference.”
Implementation highlights: secure by design, user-first
IdentIT introduced hybrid login flows, password or one-time code via email, allowing users to sign in or register seamlessly, even if unsure about having an account. SCIM integration with Sabam’s CRM enables pre-registration and personalised onboarding. Curity’s dynamic branding supports different visual styles and logic per application. For instance, the Cultura portal doesn’t allow self-registration, while Boost Customer does.
The Kubernetes-based Azure deployment delivers scalability, high availability, and fast rollouts. Security measures include preventing account guessing by adapting login flows and system messages without sacrificing usability.
Tangible impact: what’s live and what’s next
The Cultura portal is now fully live, replacing manual Excel workflows with automated onboarding and secure access. Boost Customer is in final preparations for launch, starting with sports associations and expanding in phases. The IAM platform’s automation and self-service capabilities are expected to reduce operational overhead and improve user satisfaction.
Ready for the future
With the first phase live, Mathieu reflects: “We’re not just happy with the outcome, we’re confident in the foundation we’ve built. The flexibility of the platform, the ease of use for our teams and users, and the ability to scale. It all gives us peace of mind for the future.”
