Construction company unlocks its potential with Microsoft 365
Rhomberg Bau, tapped into the potential of unifying old IT systems, that have been managed differently in each business area, and making them more efficient through Microsoft 365 automation.
Case Study
Overview
Rhomberg Bau GmbH, a fourth-generation family-owned international construction company, specializing in construction, resources, and railway technology, has started its journey of microsoft 365 automation. They turned to a trusted Microsoft Partner, to help them take the fast track wherever possible to enable Rhomberg’s stakeholders to quickly experience the benefits of digitalization.
With the help of their Microsoft Partner, Rhomberg combined Office 365, Dynamics CRM and Azure. Using Microsoft PowerApps, Power BI, Flow, SharePoint lists, Dynamics CRM, and Outlook, three key processes of Rhomberg were automated, simplifying collaboration, reducing time expenditure, and increasing transparency.
IT Challenges
The Challenge
Rhomberg Bau GmbH, is organized in several business areas, united under a common strategy to improve collaboration among them. As a result, the company moved to the cloud, installed a Microsoft Office 365 tenant and replaced some IT legacy systems with Microsoft’s standard tools.
To make collaboration happen, people need to change their habits. Rhomberg Bau, worked on that cultural change following a set of rules:
- Files are only stored once.
- Projects are created only once in the system, even if several business areas are working on it. (In the past, each area had their own separated project area.)
- Transparency with regards to the progress of projects must be increased.
- Processes and structures must be standardized and visualized in a clear and simple way in the system. Their application becomes less dependent on the individual person in charge.
- Rhomberg Bau, tapped into the potential of unifying old IT systems, that have been managed differently in each business area, and making them more efficient through automation.
IT Strategy
The Strategy – Microsoft 365 Automation
Through workshops, a Microsoft Partner illustrated to Rhomberg Bau the potential of combining the three main components of Office 365, Dynamics CRM, and Azure. Together with various stakeholders from Rhomberg Bau conceptualized a suitable architecture and approach for launching a series of dedicated Business Apps on top of its new Microsoft platform with a step-by-step development path. Rhomberg Bau has launched the following Business Apps in pilot testing for Rhomberg:
Construction Defects App: Built to simplify the record (including uploading of smartphone pictures), classification, and tracking of construction defects.
In construction projects, classification and tracking of construction defects are the biggest drivers of cost and deadline overruns, which is why a simplified recording and tracking process is important to the company. Furthermore, this app allows the company to rate their suppliers in terms of construction quality.
Dynamic Storage App: Built to dynamically create SharePoint site structures to save project-related documents in one single place – based on business partners involved (according to the CRM project entries). For big construction projects, it is key that all parties involved store and find important documents intuitively without getting lost in complex filing hierarchies.
Building Documentation App: Built to improve communication with client stakeholders on a project’s progress. The app allows all parties to easily upload and send pictures and plans of the building site and post news about the progress.
To develop the apps, following Microsoft tools were utilized: PowerApps, Power BI, Flow, SharePoint lists, Dynamics CRM, and Outlook Online.
All apps are currently being used in a pilot phase by key users, who have been trained accordingly. A full-scale roll-out is planned for the start of calendar year 2019, while further apps and improvements are expected to come on an ongoing basis.
Download this case study here.
Responza
Who is Responza?
It’s simple. Responza is the IT partner small and medium sized businesses should leverage to perform with excellence and thrive among their competitors.
Obsessive About IT Operations
Steeped in Business & IT Experience & Knowledge
Fanatical About Service Excellence & Customer Satisfaction
Well-Established & Rooted in the Business Community
We fix more than IT
Responza achieves results
With all the apps developed and launched with Rhomberg – on top of the new platform – the microsoft 365 automation of small tasks has improved and simplified cross-team collaboration. Apart from time savings, the organization has gained more transparency and higher quality on business relevant workflows.
Getting the organization to experience the new working environment and directly benefiting from it, meant taking giant steps in the digital and cultural transformation of the group. Already, the key users are actively asking to roll-out the apps in other areas and develop new ones.
TESTIMONIALS
What People Are Saying
“The relationship that McCay Kiddy has built with Responza has helped our firm become better at getting the most from the technology they have and understanding technology that can add value and help them meet their goals.”
Natalie Yutzy, McCay Kiddy
“Working with Responza was, quite honestly, a relief. We had so many IT service providers come in and price out huge plans with huge price tags that just didn’t fit what we needed to become current or stage out our future.”
Michael Graham, ADC Engineering
“Because of the improvements Responza helped us make, we are able to be more forward thinking and forward-acting instead of maintaining our day-to-day. We can be much more about our customers than about our IT infrastructure.”
Rob Hodges, Duvall Catering and Events
“I appreciated the help very much. My technician was friendly and solved the problem quickly and effectively.”
“Thank you very much. This was my first time working from home and it is a relief to know that I can get help.”
Dora H.
“Jesse was really fantastic to work with and anticipated everything I would need.”President
LOCATIONS
Washington State
- Aberdeen
- Bellevue
- Olympia
- Seattle
- Spokane
- Tacoma
- Yakima