Apotheken-Rechen-Zentrum interim management

Apotheken-Rechen-Zentrum interim management – Apotheken-Rechen-Zentrum onboards external IT expertise to optimise IT processes.

Apotheken-Rechen-Zentrum GmbH (ARZ) Darmstadt is a leading provider of prescription invoicing solutions for pharmacies in Germany. Every month, ARZ handles millions of prescriptions, making it a critical cog in Germany’s healthcare system. In order to meet the ever-growing demands on IT security and optimally align with advancing technologies, ARZ chose to seek external support. Bechtle provided a seasoned expert to act as an Interim Manager, helping to evaluate and optimise ARZ’s in-house IT processes, initiate new projects, and bring ongoing projects to fruition.

Project details.

Services

Security
Modern Workplace
Cloud

Industry

Pharmaceutical / Healthcare

Manufacturer

Microsoft

Company size

< 250 employees

Challenge.

For over 50 years, Apotheken-Rechen-Zentrum (ARZ) Darmstadt has been helping pharmacies in the region with smooth processes for prescription invoicing. Headquartered in Darmstadt and with sites in Gera and Oldenburg, ARZ supports some 2,500 pharmacies throughout Germany, but predominantly in the states of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia and Saarland. From forms to e-prescriptions, ARZ is subject to stringent security, data protection and insurance standards at every step of the billing process, which is why it depends on an evolving and always future-ready IT infrastructure to ensure its systems are not only robust and reliable, but also innovative and scalable to meet the needs of tomorrow. A flexible and secure IT landscape that needs to align with the ever-changing requirements of the healthcare sector is sure to keep IT professionals on their toes, and the consistent and seamless integration of the latest technologies requires in-house processes to run like clockwork. With this in mind, ARZ was looking to establish an organisation that would encourage independent and agile work styles through streamlined processes and enhanced collaboration features designed to keep employees engaged. The challenge, in a nutshell, was to develop a long-term IT strategy that would guarantee security, support growth, and safeguard the company’s future.

Thanks to the outstanding work with the Interim Manager provided to us by Bechtle completely hassle free and at short notice, we have been able to modernise and future-proof our IT infrastructure from the ground up. Bechtle’s expertise coupled with the Interim Manager’s focused approach have helped us enormously as we tackle the IT challenges of today and tomorrow.

Jürgen Pohl, Head of the IT Data Centre, Apotheken-Rechen-Zentrum GmbH

Solution.

Bechtle and Apotheken-Rechen-Zentrum can look back on a long business relationship. During a comprehensive analysis of the data centre as part of a Bechtle Report, the IT service provider determined where there was room for infrastructure improvement and where new technologies were needed to keep ARZ going into the future. It was also discovered that some processes could be better organised as there was some ambiguity as to who was responsible for what. This required an external manager to come in, who would help ARZ’s IT department realign its processes—not only in the short term, but also strategically. A seasoned expert in data centre operations and IT strategy took on this role on a temporary basis. Bechtle’s Interim Manager was tasked with stabilising the IT team, implementing clear processes and developing the department’s strategic direction. His structured approach allowed ARZ to overcome short-term challenges and define long-term objectives and he held regular meetings with ARZ’s management and IT staff to gain a clear picture of the status quo. Where need was greatest, he worked with the newly appointed Head of IT to roll out targeted measures that optimised IT processes and prepared the team for the upcoming changes. Most critically, Bechtle’s Interim Manager created clearly structured responsibilities so that every single employee would know exactly which tasks were within their remit. He also held weekly coaching sessions in which he not only trained the team, but also ensured they were actively involved in the change process. Working together, the partners redesigned ARZ’s backup concept and reworked its security strategy before bolstering the defences around all existing virtual machines and rolling out a new backup process that meets current security requirements. At the same time, the Interim Manager was on hand to offer support during the introduction of Microsoft 365, which allows employees to work from anywhere, assisting in the implementation and making sure that each member of staff got involved in the new way of working through training sessions and workshops. In this way, he ensured that the team were motivated and ready for the new technology.

Business benefits.

The Interim Manager’s vast experience coupled with his speedy onboarding allowed him to make an immediate impact on ARZ’s structures for the better, relieving the IT team and clarifying responsibilities. Decisions can now be made and projects completed more quickly. By getting employees involved in the process and providing regular coaching sessions, the team quickly got to grips with the new technologies and are now in a position to get the most out of them. The Interim Manager’s unique perspective has made it possible for employees to work independently, quickly identify potential for optimisation and take steps to implement subsequent improvement measures. Acting as a hub between the management and IT department, he also successfully boosted communication and collaboration, and was always on hand—either on-site or remotely—to answer questions or discuss further steps. This mix of leadership, expertise and operative support helped ARZ to optimise its IT landscape and ready it for whatever the future holds.