Challenge.
schlaich bergermann partner (sbp) has been planning, coordinating and realising worldwide projects that stand out from the crowd and have as small an impact on the environment as possible since 1980. From the roof on the Montréal Olympic Stadium to spectacular bridges such as that at Königstuhl, awesome high rises and special construction projects like the Oman Botanic Garden, sbp not only builds remarkable buildings, but is also sustainably contributing to the culture of construction at every step of the planning phase.
sbp wanted this spirit of innovation to be mirrored in its IT as for the independent engineers, it is the basis of efficient collaboration between all its employees and project partners. Global, highly complex projects with international partners involving large volumes of data are the norm at sbp, and so video conferences and the secure sharing of files across international borders were as essential as a flexible, future-proof working environment that supports working from home and across continents. To drive forward the digitalisation of projects, sbp was therefore looking for a holistic IT strategy and a partner to help it become a reality.
By migrating us to Microsoft 365’s cloud infrastructure, Bechtle has simplified and added an extra layer of flexibility to our IT landscape. Of particular note are the the security features, which are centralised within the Microsoft Management Platform to facilitate administration and have allowed us to more efficiently digitalise our processes. We are now able to share files more quickly and securely making us much more flexible and supporting collaboration on large international projects. Employee acceptance is high, which goes to show that choosing Bechtle to help us make the change was the right decision.
Bernd Klostermann, IT Management, sbp se
Solution.
As a long-term partner of sbp, Bechtle recommended Microsoft 365 as the ideal solution platform for a modern IT infrastructure with cutting edge collaboration and communication tools as well as onboard security features. When it came to implementation, Bechtle carefully put together a project roadmap based on a proven standard approach. This, along with the project’s dependencies and challenges as well as all related costs were presented to schlaich bergermann partner with Bechtle comparing the implementation of the complex cloud project, its issues and dependencies with the planning and building phases of a house. These steps included setting up the Microsoft 365 environment in the cloud, synchronising and authenticating identities, multi-factor authentication, securing end devices, protecting e-mails and rolling out modern work tools.
The presentation helped ensure everyone understood what was to come and ultimately led to Bechtle and sbp working together. To ensure the seamless upgrade to Microsoft 365, Bechtle first migrated the existing mail system to Microsoft Exchange while also updating Office and installing OneDrive as a central repository for all computers. A centralised tool for efficient internal and external communication was also installed. Bechtle’s focus was squarely on IT security and ensured that the Microsoft tools met high security standards. The IT company also modernised the phone system using Microsoft to ensure that the employees can be easily reached and communicate globally. Bechtle and sbp set great store in preparing the staff to use the new tools and processes with Bechtle holding several on-site training courses. Thanks to regular debriefings, Bechtle was also able to make sure that all the features worked smoothly.
Business benefits.
By transforming sbp’s IT by introducing Microsoft 365, Bechtle has successfully made the company’s work processes more efficient and secure. The staff benefit from a modern, secure and flexible working environment that they can use to network with all locations, which has not only improved in-house collaboration, but also smooths communication with external partners. All in all, sbp’s specialists are well-equipped for whatever the future holds.