In the latest edition of Cobouw, a renowned magazine for the construction and installation industry, Joep van den Brink, Director of Hanab Connectivity Solutions shares his experiences in working with Emixa.
Hanab Connectivity Solutions, a leading player in the construction and maintenance of telecom and energy networks, recently took an important step in its digital transformation. The company has implemented a new cloud-based ERP system. We spoke with Joep van den Brink, Director of Connectivity Solutions, about this ambitious project.
Van den Brink finds himself at an exciting point in his career. Since this autumn, he has been the director of Hanab’s business unit specialising in telecom networks. He explains: “We create connections through both old and new technologies — whether it’s copper, fibre optics, 5G, WiFi, microwave or satellite connections. We have the expertise for all these networks and technologies in-house.”
The timing of the new ERP system couldn’t have been better. Van den Brink continues: “It’s perfect that we now have a firm grip on our business processes with a new ERP system in place. We have big ambitions, and to realise them, the foundations need to be solid.”
Switching to a new ERP system is no small feat. To future-proof their business, Hanab Connectivity Solutions selected the cloud-based ERP system from 4PS. Van den Brink explains: “We were looking for an implementation partner to guide us through this change, and quickly landed on Emixa — a well-known partner with solid expertise in the construction and installation sector.”
Emixa follows a tailored approach for such transformation projects, known as the SBOS model. It always considers strategy, business processes, organisation, and systems as a whole. After all, implementing a new ERP system affects virtually the entire organisation. In this case, about 1,600 people now work with the new system.
Every such project starts by mapping out all business processes. What makes Hanab Connectivity Solutions unique is the combination of projects, service & maintenance, and a growing number of new services. Van den Brink notes: “We listen to our customers. That means we deliver both tailor-made and standard solutions.”
The new ERP system had to accommodate that. “For example,” Van den Brink continues, “we’ve introduced new services like financing models, where we take on the investment in assets — such as routers, switches, and access points. We manage over 10,000 assets, all of which had to be incorporated into the new ERP system.”
Van den Brink highlights the importance of clear communication throughout the project: “Emixa was great at navigating between different topics and stakeholders. This allowed our steering committee to receive clear summaries and make swift decisions on complex matters.”
It’s essential to maintain perspective during a process like this. Van den Brink agrees: “Emixa looked beyond the ERP system and immediately mapped our entire IT landscape. Their team helped us make decisive choices in our IT policy, enabling us to further rationalise our systems.”
With this solid foundation in place, the company is now looking to the future. Together with Emixa, Van den Brink is exploring opportunities in sustainability and Smart Planning. “Now we’re getting to the exciting part,” Van den Brink says enthusiastically. “I see a lot of opportunities, particularly around sustainability. For instance, we’ve been using trackers in our company vehicles for a while, and now we can process that data in real-time within our sustainability reports.”
Emixa plays a key role in translating this data into concrete sustainability initiatives. They’re also helping Hanab Connectivity Solutions develop dashboards and reports that not only provide insight into the current situation but also identify opportunities for improvement and measure the impact of sustainability measures.
Another important development is the introduction of Smart Planning. Van den Brink explains: “Smart Planning is the next big step for our company. We have a wealth of data, and Emixa is helping us make the most of it for more efficient deployment of our people and resources. Think route optimisation — reducing fuel costs and CO2 emissions while increasing productivity by cutting travel time.”
That’s crucial, as the demand for, and availability of, technical personnel is becoming ever more important. “We’re proud of our people,” Van den Brink continues. “Specialists who are true professionals and aim to be the best. So how do we keep them sustainably employable? Can we make their work easier — and more enjoyable? Smart Planning can help with that too.” Emixa is supporting not just the technical implementation, but also the change management needed to successfully embed this new way of working into daily operations.
Van den Brink looks to the future with confidence: “Agility is crucial in our industry. We aim for a balanced mix of projects and services to build a stable base. With Emixa as our strategic partner, we’re in a great position to identify and seize new opportunities.”
Hanab Connectivity Solutions can be proud of its transformation into a data-driven organisation. Van den Brink concludes: “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together through commitment, expertise, and teamwork. We’re better equipped than ever to meet the growing demand for connectivity.”
Emixa’s CEO Peter-Jan Simons:
“It’s fantastic to hear how Joep experienced our collaboration. Every ERP implementation brings its own challenges, but it’s our daily work to navigate them successfully. Our SBOS approach truly makes a difference, and it’s great to see that recognised and appreciated by our client.”
“Like Joep, we believe in working together as partners. That’s why we remain closely involved with Hanab Connectivity Solutions — now primarily with our team of data experts.”
“This is something we see often with these projects: with a cloud-based ERP system, data quality improves significantly, and you can genuinely start innovating in a data-driven way. To me, it proves that Emixa offers the full package when it comes to digital transformation.”
Our experts are happy to share their insights and explore how your organisation can take the next step in your digital journey.