Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
The digitization of business processes: it is high on the list of priorities at many companies. So too within the GWW and infrastructure sector. In order to achieve the intended process optimization, organizations often use a conventional ERP system. But that alone is far from sufficient (anymore). Digitalization and data-driven work include and mean more. Much more. Especially now, at a time when the modern contractor is increasingly looking for far-reaching integration of systems and applications, optimal security and ease of use.
4PS from Ede fulfills these needs and specializes for over 22 years in creating, implementing and maintaining standard software. They do this specifically for GWW, construction and installation engineering. With a team of approximately 350 versatile professionals, they work daily on smart solutions that benefit more than 450 customers worldwide.
Marcel van Noord, Business Unit Manager GWW at 4PS, describes three reasons why digitization is a must for infra and GWW. "Due to the dynamic nature of these sectors, there is a need to digitize. After all, technical developments follow each other in rapid succession and keeping up with them is a challenge. In addition, contractors often have large amounts of data at their disposal. This data can only be put to good use if you have the right systems in place that bring all the data together and provide insight. And finally, clients sometimes force digitalization, such as mandatory digital invoicing at government agencies."
On its way to optimally digitized and data-driven business operations, 4PS is laying an innovative and integral software foundation that supports all primary business processes. This is done with the ERP system 4PS Construct, a total solution that matches the processes in the GWW and infra sector. This ERP system is based on today's most modern platform: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. It can be used entirely from the cloud and is available to everyone 24/7. Everywhere, up-to-date, scalable and secure.
"We set the bar extremely high during the development of our ERP system 4PS Construct," Van Noord continues. "In terms of functionality, but also in terms of ease of use, security and availability. Microsoft itself contributes heavily to this. In fact, the company is investing $20 million in cyber-security over the next five years. At the same time, it guarantees 99.9% availability of its cloud services.
As a result, we not only perfectly meet end-user requirements in terms of ease of use for such an application; we also guarantee companies a solution that meets the very highest security requirements."
4PS Construct is easily linked to Microsoft solutions (such as Teams, Excel and SharePoint) and third-party software. In doing so, 4PS keenly anticipates the growing market need for systems that are integrated with each other. "Everything has to be tied together," Van Noord explains. "To achieve that, we developed the 4PS API (Application Programming Interface, ed.). The 4PS API ensures that integrations can be established easily and in a manageable way." Furthermore, 4PS also has standard integrations with, for example, WhiteVision (digitization of documents/purchasing invoices), Ibis (estimating/tendering administration), Hillstar (Microsoft Power BI) and Creetion (Enterprise Service BUS). The result is greater efficiency and insight into the company as a whole and its business processes.
In dialogue with clients, integration with the Microsoft Power Platform is a recurring theme. Because this "low-code" development platform requires little programming knowledge, developers can develop an application that fits the business need in a short time. Here, too, 4PS sees great opportunities for the GWW and infrastructure sector. "The big advantage of 4PS Construct is that the ERP system is a solution based on Microsoft technology," says Van Noord. "Because Microsoft has the integrations with the Power Platform readily available, we can fully focus on the applications for our customers. The Microsoft Power
Last year, platform experts from our Business Unit Be-Sync developed various applications with Power Apps and workflows with Power Automate. Tools that offer the user a lot of flexibility and possibilities to give substance to the intended digitization process. Fast, effective and industry-specific."
A great example is a Power App that supports contractors on the construction site with digital material call-outs. "In addition, you can think of a Power App that supports the process of sick and recovery reporting," said Van Noord. "The approachability of the platform ensures that our Power Platform experts can quickly develop such specific apps. A welcome added value with a view to the further optimization, digitization and automation of your business processes."
Case from practice: Remondis Smart Infra
"The applications that 4PS develops with the Microsoft Power Platform integrate seamlessly with our information systems and give our employees secure access to company data. Anytime, anywhere and with any device. The fact that 4PS has chosen to integrate their ERP solutions with the Microsoft Power Platform ensures that we can provide our people and relations with reliable information. Now and in the future. Partly because of this, we are able to respond quickly to changes in the market."
Wilfred Stinissen, business logic manager
Case from practice: JdB group
"High-quality control information is an important prerequisite for an efficient project approach. Partly for this reason, we switched to the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central-based 4PS Construct in 2021. By unlocking data from 4PS Construct in our data warehouse, we have much faster and better insight into our future cash flows. At the same time, it is possible to steer in real time on positions to be invoiced and the closing process has been greatly simplified."
Sjoerd Bader, chief financial officer
About 4PS
As market leader in the Netherlands, 4PS develops, implements and maintains standard software solutions for construction, GWW and installation engineering. More than 350 professionals work daily on applications that are distinctive for over 450 customers around the world. 4PS has offices in Ede (Netherlands), Birmingham (United Kingdom), Ghent and Hasselt (Belgium), and Ulm (Germany).
