New forms of collaboration through Microsoft Teams

Step by step to the digital workplace

The digital transformation, changes in society and, last but not least, COVID-19! present many companies with new challenges. – Thomas Schneider, CEO of swr+ wants to invest in concepts of digital transformation and is therefore aiming for the concept of the digital workplace in a straightforward and consistent manner. In the spring, swr+ reacted due to COVID-19! very fast and led Microsoft Teams as a communication and collaboration platform.

Swr+ logo, teams

To the digital workplace with teams

customer

For swr+ was founded in 1948 by Prof. Robert Sennhauser and has been anchored in the Limmattal for over 70 years since then. swr+ has been operating under its current name since 2020 and is led by CEO Thomas Schneider. The company employs around 50 people who work in the fields of engineering and architecture. The main customer is the public sector. swr+ acts as a consultant, planner, engineer and service provider as well as always as a trustee for the customer's assets. Each of swr+'s approximately 50 employees handles interdisciplinary projects individually and independently, from acquisition to controlling.

starting position

COVID-19! Probably the challenge of 2020 overall. – “Quickly go to the home office, now or never!” Thomas Schneider emphasizes that swr+ sees the change in IT infrastructure as positive and has taken a big step towards digitalization. However, for him it was not only the pandemic that made investments crucial, but he also clearly mentioned the “digital natives” generation. Workplace requirements and prioritization have changed and require new innovations from employers. - Said and done! – swr+ was looking for suitable solutions and quick implementation.
The transformation to a “digital workplace” in collaboration with redIT can begin.

swr+, microsoft teams

Challenge: Teams are essential for internal & external collaboration

Most of swr+'s IT infrastructure was already in a private cloud. The solution used by swr+ had some weaknesses and technical complications. In addition, there is a lack of innovation in terms of technology. Thomas Schneider explains that the industry was also a big driver towards digitalization. It is becoming more agile, more digital and more networked. Internal and external collaboration is becoming more important than ever. In addition, COVID-19 became a driver of digital communication and collaboration platforms. According to Thomas Schneider, at the beginning of the collaboration in 2019, most of it worked: “only with paper!” There were few mobile IT options for employees. Thomas Schneider sees digital transformation as a continuous journey on which you shouldn't miss the train.
Little by little, further milestones emerged for swr+ as part of the digital transformation. On the one hand, the concept of a “digital workplace” should be pursued, and on the other hand, investments should be made in flexible rental models for IT infrastructure. This simplifies IT and creates more predictable costs due to a lack of investment. SaaS is the overall goal; completely into the cloud!

Solution: Teams from the M365-Palette

In order to take a first step towards a “digital workplace”, swr+ found what it was looking for in Microsoft’s portfolio: Microsoft Teams – a platform that centrally promotes modern, interdisciplinary teamwork and takes it to a new level. It not only brings people together, but also content. This marked the beginning of the “digital transformation” journey. swr+ strives for internal communication, collaboration and telephony to take place exclusively via the Teams platform. Thomas Schneider compares Microsoft Teams to a workshop, where you can use individual tools as desired and flexibly or not. At swr+ he wants to prevent loss of know-how, for example through the “OneNote” feature, where employees share their notebooks on customer projects with each other. From 2021, swr+ wants to handle the entire project, including meetings, via teams. Not least to ensure efficiency gains for customers as well. Another big milestone on the digital journey will be the optimization of the existing IT infrastructure outside of Microsoft 365. Whether to Azure, to redIT in the data center or a hybrid solution with parts on site at the customer is still being worked out. In other words, the story will continue. – Don’t miss the train while reading!

Conclusion: New way of thinking and working through Microsoft Teams

Digitalization not only changes the way we think, but also the way we work. A continuous consideration seems to be unavoidable today.

Microsoft Teams Office 365, teams

redIT_Testimonial_Thomas-Schneider-1

«The digitalization process requires great imagination and a number of decisions that need to be set in the desired direction. redIT supports where we need support and understands how we want to work in the future.»

Thomas Schneider

CEO, swr+

The entire success story at a glance

• The overview
• The customer
• The initial situation
• The request
• The solution
• The conclusion

swr+ Doc - Microsoft Teams
Everything at a glance

The entire success story at a glance

• The overview
• The customer
• The initial situation
• The request
• The solution
• The conclusion

swr+ Doc - Microsoft Teams

Interested in this solution?