Toward a Centralized and Transparent Operation
HYE Construction is no small player. For example, it is helping to raise 15 bridges over the Albert Canal and is currently building a new hydroelectric power plant at the lock complex in Diepenbeek. At the same time, the hydraulic engineering firm has transitioned its project management to a digital platform. Paper files are a thing of the past, and project tracking and internal communication run much more smoothly thanks to the implementation of Microsoft 365. Alistar advised HYE and implemented Docufly, a SharePoint-based solution centered on ‘digital collaboration.’ .
Alistar fully understood our needs and provided the perfect solution. To ensure the implementation was practical, the team also spent a lot of time talking with our users and listening to their expectations and concerns.
Georgy Eggermont, Head of Strategy, Organization, and Development
HYE is a specialized contractor in hydraulic engineering, building, among other things, quays, bridges, and hydroelectric power plants for the Flemish government and private clients. The company is part of the H2O Group in Zwijndrecht, a group of water-related companies that has made digitalization a key focus of its strategy. Georgy Eggermont, head of strategy, organization, and development, says: “We want to get all our companies on track digitally. To that end, we are looking for high-performance systems that help us work more efficiently and transparently. It is not our intention to make heavy investments or undertake large-scale implementations, but rather to invest strategically in various programs that can quickly provide concrete solutions to our specific needs.”
For HYE, operating in a decentralized manner is one of those specific challenges. “We’re constantly carrying out various projects throughout Flanders. That means many of our 160 employees work on-site. On the one hand, they need to be able to communicate easily with each other, as well as with clients and suppliers—sometimes in places where internet coverage is lacking. On the other hand, we also want to ensure seamless data sharing with our headquarters in Zwijndrecht, where our central services are located.”
The End of the Paper Age
Until last year, project and site managers worked with paper files for each construction site. Most managers had also developed their own systems for tracking information on their laptops or hard drives. “For us, digitization meant moving away from paper and disparate systems to introduce a more convenient and transparent way of working. We wanted everyone, regardless of their workplace, to be able to quickly and efficiently find the information they needed,” said Georgy Eggermont.
HYE contacted Alistar (then known as the GMI Group) to develop a customized solution. This led to the creation of Docufly, a collaboration platform built on Microsoft 365 and SharePoint, with a focus on ‘digital collaboration.’ “The advantage of this is that it builds on the Microsoft applications and licenses we were already using. In addition, it’s a multifunctional solution: we can store our documents in a single system, but also manage tasks, approval workflows, and so on… And last but not least: the platform is constantly evolving, which means we’ll be able to tap into new capabilities in the future as well.”
A single point of contact at Alistar
The construction company is delighted with its collaboration with Alistar. Georgy Eggermont: “First and foremost, Alistar fully understood our needs and provided the perfect answer in the solution they proposed. Next, to make the implementation a reality, the team spoke extensively with our users and listened to their expectations and concerns.”
Project Manager Pim Van Opstal adds: “We considered it a definite plus that we had a single point of contact with them—someone who really understood how we were evolving once we became familiar with the solution. They responded quickly to issues and additional requests to customize the tool. Finally, Alistar also provided training for our employees.”
The new Docufly collaboration platform allows us to share information with third parties involved in our projects. This also enables us to handle approval workflows digitally.
Efficiency, time savings, information and knowledge sharing
For HYE, improving efficiency was a key objective of this project. “By centralizing everything and making it accessible from any location, Alistar ensured smooth operations and communication between the company’s various divisions,” explains estimator Stijn Boden, who is a key user of the digital solution. “The link between estimating and our job sites means that valuable information can be easily exchanged between the two departments. Moreover, the solution was custom-developed for us, as several people from all divisions of the company were involved in the tool’s design.”
“As a company, we’ve made significant progress,” Georgy confirms. ”The database—with its search function, dashboards, and digital workflows—saves us a lot of time. What’s more, the central departments at headquarters and senior management now have a much better understanding of what’s happening in the field.”
“Thanks to the new software package, we’ve been able to share information that was previously held by just a few people with the entire organization. That’s crucial in the long run. The next step, by the way, is to develop an intranet for our group—once again in collaboration with Alistar.”
An educational journey for Alistar, too
“HYE is a highly innovative company in the field of digitization. They are constantly looking for new ways to work even more efficiently and collaborate more effectively, both internally and with external partners,” adds our Alistar expert.
At HYE, we were challenged to always go “just that little bit further.” That’s why we’re constantly exploring the latest technologies to see what opportunities they can offer them.
