The challenge for Alistar was clear: to design a completely new workspace. “I’ve always thought ahead and didn’t want to keep using outdated systems just because they still work,” Lode begins. The phone system at Unia was the best example of this. “Our phone system ran on Windows 2000. Whenever a colleague sat down at a desk, we actually had to run copper cables so they could make calls. But that thing cost us 14,000 euros in maintenance. Unthinkable, right?”
We realized that our infrastructure was severely outdated, and we wanted to turn our new offices into a true ‘modern workplace.’.
Lode Nolf, Digital Transformation Officer
Catching up on 20 years of backlog
To make up for those 20 years of lag, Lode enlisted the help of Alistar, which assisted in radically modernizing the IT infrastructure. As a result, the local servers were replaced with an Azure environment, hybrid meeting rooms were introduced, and employees were provided with equipment such as state-of-the-art headsets and monitors. But the change that had the greatest impact on day-to-day operations was the implementation of calling via Microsoft Teams.
We did have a clear idea of where we wanted to go, but you need specialists to make the practical transition. Alistar’s expertise proved to be invaluable in all of this.
Unia's Modern Workplace
There are four departments operating under the Unia umbrella. Thanks to the implementation of Microsoft Teams, each with its own digital phone system workflow. “We did have a clear idea of where we wanted to go, but you need specialists to handle the practical transition. Alistar’s expertise proved invaluable in all of this. All employees now make calls via Teams, allowing them to call from anywhere, at any time. There are separate lines for the various departments, and some incoming calls are automatically forwarded to the right people.” One notable detail: the calls that still go through the front desk are handled by Bart, a man with a visual impairment who uses a softphone app and can now work flexibly from home as a result.
The Human Factor in the Modern Workplace
Lode Nolf and the Alistar team held discussions with each team to jointly identify their wishes, needs, and any concerns. After onboarding, all employees were given time to familiarize themselves with Teams. In the end, that went off without a hitch. “If you want to get people on board with your vision, you have to make sure the IT infrastructure supports it.” makes work easier and more efficient.
In that regard, Teams offers a number of advantages: integration with CRM (click-to-call feature), compatibility with a wide range of devices, collaborative calling (call groups), easy customization (without Alistar’s help), etc. Now everything is in place to work comfortably and flexibly Whether from home or at the office, using the best materials and the best software. Ultimately, it is the people whose interests Unia represents who reap the benefits of all this. And that, after all, is what matters most to us.”
Could your organization benefit from a modern workplace? Would you like more information about Microsoft Teams as a collaboration tool?
