The Swiss company Condecta AG has found in
Sycor.Rental the appropriate ERP software for supporting planning and business processes
for the complex rental business.
"We have evaluated a total of 12 ERP systems with rental functions; in the end we opted for
Microsoft Dynamics AX and the industrial solution
Sycor.Rental. Our key criteria were: reliability, flexibility, user-friendliness and
multi-language capability," says Markus Kalberer, CEO of Condecta AG, of the company's systematic
software-selection process. This move toward a new ERP solution at Condecta, the leading provider
of self-erecting cranes, modular space systems and event services in Switzerland, had become
necessary because the old system was no longer able to manage the rising demands. The existing
evaluation options were not satisfactory, the planned integration of mobile terminals could not be
realized, and the branch offices in the French-speaking region of Switzerland and in Italy also
added to the need for a multi-language solution.
"For us, Microsoft Dynamics AX and
Sycor.Rental represent an optimal combination and a strong solution for the complex rental
business that we have deployed for 35 users," points out Markus Kalberer.
Sycor.Rental, as implemented at Condecta, combines today all relevant business processes
regarding the individual and volume rentals of construction cranes, construction machinery, space
systems and mobile sanitary facilities. The system maps the entire process chain, from transparent
resource management using the convenient DispoControl planning tool, transport management and
vehicle navigation to service and maintenance processes. In addition, Condecta can also run its
trading activities via the solution. "Our implementation partner was the Swiss company Boss Info
AG, which introduced Microsoft Dynamics AX, while while we provided the solution
Sycor.Rental and know-how for the rental business that was integrated with the project,"
explains Frank Jakobi on behalf of Sycor's management.
Integration of mobile devices with GPS data transmission
"To optimize the service processes, we integrated mobile end devices for all customer-service
installers and Mobi-Toil service drivers with the ERP system," says Sycor project manager Jürgen
Theisen. Together with Syfex, a special provider of mobile software solutions, Condecta had
previously developed the solution, internally called KD-Mobile, and introduced it in stages. Smooth
connection and communications with the ERP system were ensured by the consultants of Sycor in
Göttingen.
Via KD-Mobile, installers and service drivers receive the workshop and service orders,
previously set up by the service center in the ERP system, directly on their mobile handheld
devices. And all that without any loss of time right on the construction site or an event location.
Once the order is completed, the Condecta installers record their working hours on site, as well as
any input of materials and parts. Coupled with scanned barcodes and georeferenced information,
these data are reported back to the service center and ERP system via the GPRS network and then
further processed there. Condecta profits from the reliable, real-time data transmission in
multiple ways: thanks to KD-Mobile and its connection to
Sycor.Rental, the average processing time of service and maintenance orders has decreased,
and the invoicing of customers is closer to real-time. By reporting back the input of materials and
parts on site directly upon completion of the work, it is possible to organize the purchase of
materials and the subsequent restocking of the vehicles more efficiently. The mobile availability
of new orders has optimized the travel of installers. "The reduction in the number of interfaces
throughout the entire process has improved the data quality in the system significantly," adds
Sycor's Jürgen Theisen.
"We are very satisfied with the introduction of Microsoft Dynamics AX and
Sycor.Rental. All our processes are in a single system and we can run individual
evaluations. What is more, with scalability and multi-language capability, the system is very much
ready for the future," explains Condecta CEO Markus Kalberer.
| 
