ERP Implementation<\/a> \u201dBased on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with our BuildMaster add-on, a ready-to-use package specifically designed for the construction industry. That software became the backbone of the company\u2019s administrative operations. The ERP package evolved alongside the times and the growing company.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\nSome of Alistar\u2019s customers already have their ERP in the cloud, while others still run everything internally\u2014\u2018on-premise.\u2019 \u201cWe advised Van den Hende Beton not to take their first steps toward SaaS with the ERP\u2014since it also controls their production machines and robots\u2014but to start cautiously with the Office environment,\u201d said Toon De Temmerman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Respond quickly to a new target audience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Office 365 also helps Van den Hende enhance the company\u2019s image. \u201cFirst and foremost, we need to deliver good products, but as a small, local business in an industry dominated by international giants, we can set ourselves apart with fast and personalized service,\u201d says Dirk Van den Hende. \u201cGiven the economic crisis, it\u2019s even more important for a company to operate professionally and to be flexible and dynamic. Technology like Office 365 can support us in this. This applies, among other things, to communication with architects, a target group we\u2019re collaborating with more and more often. They, too, generally use the latest technology and expect their suppliers to respond quickly as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lower IT costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Another reason for switching to Office in the cloud was the extensive renovation work. As a result, the administrative staff were working from a temporary location. \u201cThat accelerated our decision to adopt future-oriented systems,\u201d explains Dirk Schelstraete, IT manager at Van den Hende Beton. \u201cWith cloud software, we don\u2019t have to invest as much in purchasing servers, IT maintenance, and software licenses, so our IT costs will decrease over time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nWe always pay a fixed monthly fee based on the number of users.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Flexible work from any location<\/h2>\n\n\n\n With Office 365, users aren\u2019t required to work from the temporary office. \u201cWorking from home isn\u2019t a problem at all,\u201d explains Dirk Schelstraete. \u201cWe can now work just as efficiently from any location with an internet connection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safely Storing Email History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The online mailboxes have more than enough capacity to store messages for a long time. \u201cI hardly ever delete any emails,\u201d says Dirk Van den Hende. \u201cI often keep them for years, especially the ones I\u2019ve sent myself. We regularly receive questions about past projects or encounter problems we\u2019ve already solved before. That\u2019s why it\u2019s very useful to keep a reliable record of our history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWe don't handle sensitive information, but of course we don't want to lose anything. We no longer have to worry about that.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Internal Communication via Chat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Van den Hende currently uses mainly the Exchange Online component of Office 365. Lync Online is also already being used for internal communication, particularly the instant messaging feature. \u201cSending a chat message is more efficient than emailing and less disruptive than a phone call,\u201d says Dirk Schelstraete. \u201cYou can see from the presence status whether someone is available, so you don\u2019t waste time leaving voicemails or waiting for a response.\u201c In our new offices,\u201d says Dirk Van den Hende, managing director at Van den Hende Beton, \u201dwe\u2019ll be seated a bit farther apart, so we\u2019ll likely use Lync even more intensively there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Two months after the transition to Office 365, users are very satisfied. \u201cThey had to adjust their work habits a bit, but it wasn\u2019t a major change,\u201d says Dirk Van den Hende. \u201cIt\u2019s mainly about getting used to a new routine, such as using Lync for internal communication. Training wasn\u2019t necessary since the Microsoft environment is very familiar\u2014we just gained some additional capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharing Documents in the Cloud <\/h2>\n\n\n\n In the future, Van den Hende plans to expand the use of Office 365 even further. \u201cRight now, we\u2019re still collaborating on documents via a file server and shared folders, but that leads to wasted time, back-and-forth emailing of documents, and confusion about different versions\u2026,\u201d says Dirk Van den Hende. \u201cWe\u2019ll do that with SharePoint Online, since it\u2019s also part of Office 365. We may give clients secure access to certain documents, such as certificates or performance statements. Such documents are frequently updated, so it\u2019s easier to make them available via SharePoint than through the website.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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