INFORS HT is in many ways an exemplary SME. What began in 1965 in an empty kiosk in Basel has grown over the years into one of the most important developers and manufacturers of shakers and bioreactors. The family-owned company has a worldwide trading network and seven subsidiaries. Open-minded thinking and the implementation of unconventional ideas have characterized the company's culture since the beginning.
The open-mindedness towards new things also proved itself with regard to the technologies the family business uses for communication and collaboration. INFORS HT was among the first companies in Switzerland to replace its old on-premises telephone infrastructure with the cloud solution Microsoft Teams. As an expert in digitalized work platforms and the configuration of Microsoft technologies, MondayCoffee had the privilege to support them in this transition. We interviewed Pascal Meury (Senior Project Manager) and Julia Brück (Marketing Specialist) to learn more about the implementation and benefits of the new solution.
Digital working has become very important in the pandemic. At INFORS HT, you were already well equipped because you had a future-oriented solution for digital communication and collaboration in Microsoft Teams. How did you benefit from the early investment in Microsoft Teams?
Pascal Meury: The transition to the home office took place without delay. Our colleagues were already familiar with Microsoft Teams, as we have been using the solution since 2019. The digital way of working - especially in terms of calling, chatting, collaborating - had already been established. That was a huge advantage. The pandemic made it clear that we had chosen the right solution in the fall of 2018.
At the time, you decided in favor of Microsoft Teams and against Skype for Business. What was your motivation?
Pascal Meury: We had to replace the old telephone infrastructure in 2019. The investment in a new solution was unavoidable. However, we had already looked into the topic ahead of time. Our appetite for new technologies led us to look at modern solutions at an early stage. Microsoft Teams convinced us because it was the only solution that combined voice, video conferencing and collaboration. And it could be easily integrated with existing systems using familiar tools. Another important motivator was the requirement that the solution had to be sustainable and easy to manage for our IT. As an SME, we have limited resources at our disposal, and we need to make the best use of them.
“Our appetite for new technologies led us to look at modern solutions early on. Microsoft Teams convinced us because it was the only solution that combined voice, video conferencing and collaboration.”
And how did you deal with the risk of investing in a rather new technology?
Pascal Meury: At INFORS HT, we are fundamentally open to new things. We recognized that Microsoft Teams would be the future. The solution covered our needs as an SME and we were prepared to deal with the remaining risk.
With the introduction of Microsoft Teams, some adjustments had to be made to the IT infrastructure. INFORS HT had to be 'prepared' for the cloud, in a sense. What can you recommend to other companies that still have to take this step (into the cloud)?
Pascal Meury: To take the step, because it's worth it. Today, we rely on the cloud wherever possible so that we can keep up with developments and offer our employees worldwide a modern infrastructure. At the same time, on-premises solutions would no longer be manageable for our IT, and this is probably similar for other SMEs. The advantages of a central cloud solution, integrated into the Microsoft world, are obvious.
My recommendation is to know your own systems and processes well, very well, before you go to the cloud.
“To provide our employees worldwide with a modern infrastructure, we now rely on the cloud wherever possible.”
What did you do right when you introduced Microsoft Teams? What would you do differently today?
Pascal Meury: We are convinced that we relied on the best solution and the right partner. A small project team dealt intensively with the change in working methods at an early stage. We brought the people involved and affected on board right at the beginning in order to gain a good understanding of the necessary adjustments to the system landscape and the impact on processes, as well as to carry out the necessary training in a targeted manner.
What would we do differently? Equip everyone who makes a lot of phone calls with better headsets. That might have accelerated the transition from desk phones to headsets. In the meantime, almost everyone has returned their desk phones.
Does Microsoft Teams cover your needs for modern communication and collaboration today? Or what is still on your wish list?
Pascal Meury: Yes - our basic needs are covered. But you always have a wish list at the ready. There is still room for improvement when it comes to collaboration with external parties - for example, using Microsoft Teams Live Events for webinars. Or for digital workshops. But there will certainly be new features there soon. And to our advantage, the new functions will be available automatically, without IT first having to perform a system update.
In your company profile, you talk about an uncomplicated and family-oriented corporate culture. Does Microsoft Teams help you to live this culture even more strongly?
Julia Brück: A corporate culture develops independently of tools and software. Where there was no good face-to-face exchange before, there won't be with Microsoft Teams. But the solution enables us to communicate more easily - especially with our branches abroad. Today, I can talk to my colleagues in Brazil, North America or Asia on the phone easily and more cost-effectively. Work can be done faster.
When asked where the greatest added value of Microsoft Teams lies, what would someone from your company say today?
Julia Brück: Today, if an employee wants to call a work colleague, she doesn't have to switch between her cell phone and landline number to reach the person, because everything is synchronized with Microsoft Teams. And integration with SharePoint Online makes it easy to share documents between branches or even with external parties. I see it in my own work: everything used to be done via email. A document was sent via email, then the phone call followed. Today, everything happens simultaneously and much more efficiently than before.
