Digitization is in simplicity

It is becoming increasingly important for infrastructure companies to be able to exchange information digitally, both internally between colleagues and externally with partners. As a software supplier for the construction industry (construction, installation engineering and GWW), 4PS helps companies make this digitalization transition. More and more companies in the infrastructure know the way to 4PS. Van' t Hek Group is among the early adopters and has been working with 4PS Construct for thirteen years with full satisfaction. 

For more than nineteen years, 4PS has been developing a standard ERP solution for the construction industry based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV. "Based on standard Microsoft technology, we build add-ons specifically for the three sectors in the construction industry," says Marcel van Noord of 4PS. "For the infrastructure sector, we support all processes from acquisition to invoicing and everything in between, such as estimating, financial administration, apps, equipment management, etc. In short, a complete portfolio to digitally support infrastructure companies." Van Noord notes that from the GWW business unit, they are also seeing more and more foundation specialists connecting to 4PS Construct. "Characteristic of this industry is that they often work as subcontractors and that requires specific functionalities."

Graphic Resource Planning
According to Van Noord, the foundation industry is in a major state of flux because of the huge rush in the market. "Increasingly earlier in a process, capacity is being reserved with foundation specialists. It is therefore important for them to be able to anticipate this well, to be able to schedule people and equipment in advance, but also to be able to respond quickly to changes, a phenomenon that is the rule rather than the exception in this industry. To maintain a good picture and overview, 4PS Construct has a Graphical Resource Planning that visualizes the availability of people and equipment." Jurian Borst, policy controller at Van 't Hek Group, is very pleased with this new functionality. "Especially for our industry, it's important that we can deploy people and equipment as efficiently as possible - after all, as a subcontractor, that's where we make our living. We're actually like a factory - our machines have to run as much as possible - but in a different location each time." Van Noord adds: "Important in all these developments remains simplicity of use. People must be able to work easily with the systems. Apps are increasingly important here, capture at the source in an accessible way and interact with the office."

Marcel van Noord, Sales Manager of 4PS.

Jurian Borst, policy controller at Van 't Hek Group.

A clear added value
Van 't Hek Group has been working with 4PS software for more than thirteen years. "It was a logical choice for us at the time because the software is based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV," says Borst. "The strength of the system lies in the fact that we can use a flexible base. There is no customization involved. A basis that, incidentally, is constantly being expanded with new functionalities, such as Graphical Resource Planning. In that respect, we are also very pleased with the development that 4PS has initiated to consider the GWW as a separate business unit, with more focus on the equipment, in fact the heart of our organization." Working digitally has done Van 't Hek Group no favors. "Our turnover has tripled since 2006. Of course this is not only due to the digitalization, but it does contribute to it," Borst believes. "The integration of administration and project monitoring perhaps benefits us the most. A contractor/project manager can quickly and accurately check and approve invoices on the job, whereas previously in the paper era that hardly ever happened."

Always up to date
To keep up with all developments in the industry, 4PS maintains close contact with its customers from its various customer teams. "Based on our customers' input, we consider whether any new functionality can help the industry further," says Van Noord. "If so, the software is enriched and the modification becomes available to everyone. By the way, with the introduction of the latest version Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft has taken a big step. The new version is available both as an On Premise version, monthly rental variant (subscription) and also completely as a SaaS (software as a solution) solution in the cloud. Customers can choose which variant best suits their own vision and strategy. The good news is that this is one and the same solution, regardless of how the solution is made available. By communicating with one software program, there is no noise on the line and all parties involved always have access to the most up-to-date information."