Platform on concrete and steel in construction
Construction company De Vries in Eindhoven works for diverse customers on a variety of projects: from machine builders to construction companies and from industrial projects to smaller constructions. This wide range makes the company flexible, but also requires an organization with information as a central starting point.
Liemar, previously with Lopris/Liemar 7 and now with LiemarX, has been allowed to play a role in that for about two decades. So we thought it was about time for a little get-together. At the table, four people, who know the company from different angles, alternate: owner Jos de Vries, project manager Martijn Kanters, project manager Geert Brouwers and financial manager Annette de Vries (better known at De Vries as ‘girl's office’).
De Vries combines more than 65 years of experience in metalworking with modern machinery, traditional craftsmanship and the latest techniques. This applies to both the Construction and Laser Technology departments: different divisions that both work - in their own way - with Liemar.
Owner Jos de Vries keeps it simple - laughing hard - ‘I only use Liemar to see if the company remains financially healthy. Jos steers only by outline. ’I quickly go through the timesheets. That only takes me a few minutes. I look at the major projects, whether the purchases are booked on the right projects and whether we stay within budget with the hours. That's all. You always have to have the financial flow in order. Because if you can't pay your staff or machinery, you have a problem. It's as simple as that.‘
To provide Jos with that overview, the right information must be entered daily. That clean task lies with all other Liemar users within De Vries. Laser Technology Project Manager Martijn Kanters: ‘Because we put in the good stuff, Jos has almost no work.’
In more than twenty years of working with Liemar, Jos has never run into anything. ‘Liemar is always pleasant to work with, the people and the software. Super.’
When Martijn started at De Vries 17 years ago, he was immediately thrown in at the deep end. ‘The person doing the work had just left. I was given an explanation for about two days and then it was: good luck with it! But fortunately what still applies today was true then: we do it together. With a couple of golden colleagues, Bernie and Rob de Vries, I went to investigate. We were able to put a spin on it.’
A lot has changed since then. The machinery has been greatly expanded and modernized, many new colleagues have joined, and Martijn's role has become more specific. Some of his duties have shifted to colleagues, in return for which he now also leads his team.
Growth must be facilitated in part by efficiency and automation. That means De Vries must remain inventive. ‘Our growth requires good support. So we have to work with smart packages so that we can do the work with as few people as possible. I think we have invested too little time in Liemar so far, which also means we are not using the package to its full potential. We have found our way around it, but more is possible.’
‘What makes it more difficult for me is that I don't have much with computers. I work with them during the day, but not at home.’ Still, the way Liemar is used has continued to develop within De Vries. More information is recorded and that information is also entered more consciously. We put a lot more information in it nowadays. As a result, you can also get more out of it.‘
This includes, for example, time registration, project information and financial data. By recording that data properly, there is more insight into projects and results. The way of working also changes slowly as a result. ‘Change happens steadily, so over the years you may not notice it. But if you compare it to ten years ago, for example, we already work much less on paper.’
In another ten years, as far as Martijn is concerned, the work may be virtually paperless. ‘Liemar is also becoming more and more user-friendly. And we are going to use more and more components to make things easier for ourselves, and who knows, Liemar XI may help us with that too.’
For finance manager Annette de Vries, the benefits are mainly visible in the speed and efficiency of processes. ‘It just goes smoother and smoother.’ A good example is invoicing. Information about projects is available more quickly and can be processed more easily.
If there are questions about an invoice or payment, it is recorded directly in the system. As a result, everyone can see what the status is. ‘If there is something with an invoice, we immediately put it in Liemar. Then everyone can find it again.’
That transparency makes it easier to work together. At the same time, Annette also sees that there is still room to further improve processes. ‘It does work, but we still do things twice.’ That often has to do with working methods that, sometimes per person, originated in the past. Then it's good to take another look from time to time: why are we doing it this way?‘
Construction Project Manager Geert Brouwers: ‘We do all kinds of things here. That also makes the work interesting.’ According to him, what customers appreciate is the way in which De Vries thinks along with them. We always try to find a solution together with the customer. Even if information is not yet complete. Or if the plans have not yet been finalized. We are not quick to say that something cannot be done because information is missing. We always try to find a solution.‘
When it comes to cooperation with Liemar, Geert says, ‘If something doesn't work out in Liemar, we can always call Femke. If she's not there, someone else from the support department helps right away. It sometimes saves us searching for how was it again, so we save time and keep focus on our expertise.’
Although Liemar is already being used throughout the company, everyone thinks there is still a lot of potential. Martijn, for example, sees opportunities in further automation and digitization, while Annette is looking at process optimization and more efficient ways of working.
Therefore, it remains important to occasionally reflect on how work is done. Revisiting processes and making better use of functions creates more value. More return on investment. Martijn: ‘We want to continue. In the office and in production. Fortunately, Liemar thinks along with us proactively. So together we can make great strides in this.’
Are you curious about Constructiebedrijf De Vries? Take a look at the website: https://constructiebedrijfdevries.nl/. Would you like to get in touch with this industry peer? Let us know, we'd love to introduce you to each other!
Neem dan rechtstreeks contact op met Liemar Software BV.
Contact opnemen
Since its founding in 1985, Liemar has offered business and ERP solutions for project-based companies in steel and metal construction. Our mission is to optimize your company and processes as a partner and to create more insight together. This leads to more peace and efficiency, both for the entrepreneur and employees. With the 'New Return [...]
Bekijk Bedrijfsprofiel
