DYWIDAG Systems International (DSI) is a globally active construction technology group headquartered in Munich, Germany. DSI manufactures and supplies high-quality products for the mining and construction industries. The Construction Division focuses on post-tensioning systems, geotechnical systems, and concrete accessories. The Underground Division is responsible for the development, production, and delivery of products and systems for the mining and tunnel construction industries worldwide.
DSI’s expertise is present on every continent and is utilized worldwide in more than 95 countries by wholly-owned subsidiaries, licensees, agents, and local manufacturing facilities. In this way, DSI offers short, customized supply chains—always in keeping with its slogan: Local Presence – Global Competence.
Watch this episode of DeBouw.Online and Infra360 how Alistar's construction solution perfectly met the need for digitization.
Pre-tensioning technology is exciting enough on its own… So let’s make sure the entire document management process is ‘relaxed’—and therefore streamlined. In short, digitization with the ultimate goal of achieving that ‘cloud nine’ feeling!
Robert Jansen, Business Unit Manager
Digital Collaboration in the Construction Industry
At the Dutch subsidiary of DYWIDAG System International—known for over 30 years for its quality and dedication in the local prestressing market—every construction project is, in and of itself, a complex process. The ability to manage documents in a structured manner and to ensure smooth communication both internally and externally is crucial to keeping every project on track.
About three years ago, DYWIDAG decided to go digital. “Everything was still done on paper—both communication with our field technicians and the many processes here in the office,” says Robert Jansen, business unit manager at DYWIDAG. “There was no central ‘database.’ In light of the increasing complexity in the construction industry and our goal to work more efficiently, we decided to take a significantly different approach.”
“We already had a good relationship with Alistar—which was still called Alistar at the time—and knew about their new platform for centralized document management and digital collaboration, which was specifically designed for the construction industry. That was reason enough to take a closer look at the possibilities,” Robert continues.
Docufly: Building with Microsoft Technology
DYWIDAG already had a Microsoft Office 365 license that included SharePoint. And as it happens, Alistar’s digital construction solution, Docufly, is based on that very Microsoft technology…
Initially, we worked with a number of key users to determine what the solution should include, so that implementation could get off to a smooth start. “We organized demo sessions at various stages of the process to showcase the developed features and gather feedback,” Daan continues.
“In the next step, we rolled out the solution and organized training sessions with the users at the office, which were also recorded so they could be used as reference material later on.”
Our digital construction solution, Docufly, goes far beyond simply storing and archiving documents. DYWIDAG also saw many similarities and points of overlap with their own work processes, which made it easy to further fine-tune the solution.
Smooth collaboration is crucial
“Ultimately, Alistar built a complete package for us within SharePoint using all of SharePoint’s tools, but tailored to our way of working,“ Jansen summarizes. ”And that applies both at the office—through all phases—and ultimately on the construction site. The Alistar consultant involved remains available after the launch as a dedicated point of contact for feedback and further improvements.”
“Crucial to the success of this project was the smooth collaboration between the motivated team at Alistar on the one hand and DYWIDAG as the driving force on the other. A great example of digitalization in the construction industry,” Daan adds.
Docufly is very easy to use. With its centralized document management system and customization options via the cloud, it’s the perfect solution for us. Thanks to Alistar, we’re ready for the future!
Ready for the Future
“Whereas we used to work with various software programs that weren’t user-friendly, Alistar came up with a solution for us using Docufly, which is based on SharePoint—a program that many people are already familiar with,” Robert adds.
