MondayCoffee qualifies for the extended specialization 'Adoption & Change Management'

MondayCoffee has received another extended specialization from Microsoft. This time for our expertise on the topic of 'Adoption & Change Management'. In May 2021 MondayCoffee already qualified for ‚Calling for Microsoft Teams’. 

The award is proof that our customers enjoy the highest standard of delivery and support in this area.  

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A PROVEN APPROACH TO DIGITIZATION

Digitization starts with employees. In their everyday work. A credo we have been aligning our consulting services and Modern Work solution to for over 20 years. 'Adoption & Change Management' is the core of our customer promise.

"Introducing a tool is one thing, establishing a modern way of working in organizations is another story," said our consultant Melody Fleury in a recent client reference video. She sums it up nicely.

To help us succeed in enterprise-wide adoption of our Modern Work solution, we take the following approach:

• We don't focus on the tool, we focus on how people use it. We don't primarily teach employees about the tool, but rather define everyday use cases with them and then use the tool to map these digitally and make them accessible to everyone at the touch of a button.

• On our customer projects, we actively seek dialog with the employees of the respective organization. Without direct exchange with them, we would not be able to fulfill our mission. Only when all of our customers' employees want to change their habits and know how to work in a modern way have we reached our goal.

• We use change management systematically on projects, and our Modern Work ready-to-use solution enables rapid adoption.

Learn more about how our customers WZW AG and EPRO have benefited from our expertise in 'Adoption & Change Management'.

BEST EQUIPPED FOR THE ADOPTION OF A MODERN WAY OF WORKING 

With the extended specialization for 'Adoption & Change Management', we are among a very small group of Microsoft partners who can offer a comparable proof of capability. In addition to the existing eight Gold Partner competencies, which prove our technology competence in particular, we are very pleased to be additionally recognized by Microsoft with this specialization for our consulting service for the adoption of a modern way of working.  

20 years MondayCoffee – about paradigm shifts, cloud and corona

Today 20 years ago MondayCoffee was founded. The company’s mission is more important than ever: MondayCoffee supports companies in establishing a digital way of working. 

A conversation with Reto Meneghini, CEO & founder of MondayCoffee, about the changes of the last 20 years, the opportunities of the current digitalization push and what they themselves have learned

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Reto, in the founding year of MondayCoffee the dotcom bubble burst. In its 20th anniversary year a pandemic causes far-reaching consequences for society and economy. How was the time in between? 

At half time there was also the financial crisis...It was quite an eventful time and I do believe that things will not slow down. 

When I think back to the dotcom bubble, where many people thought that the money, we could make with the Internet was pure imagination, then we have to admit to today that the opposite has happened. We have moved into the Internet era much faster than we thought. 

Especially IT – with the cloud. When Microsoft Office 365 was launched, we were among the first partners in Switzerland to sell the product. At first, we didn't know what to do with it – because the cloud was intended to help SMEs professionalize their IT in a cost-effective way. For our customer segment, the larger companies, the cloud was not on the agenda. Their attitude at the time was that they could do it better themselves and would never give their data into the hands of Microsoft. Today we have enough proof that the cloud works. In Switzerland, the Swiss Cloud cleared one last hurdle. 

Were there other paradigm shifts over the last few years? 

Oh yes. IT was a necessary evil 20 years ago. An expensive piece of infrastructure. A classic cost center. Today, IT is a success driver. CTOs and CDOs now sit on the executive boards. Many business models would not be possible without IT. 

“We used to sell our knowledge - from techies to techies - on an hourly basis as a classic service provider. Today, we are a service provider and a software vendor at the same time.”

— Reto Meneghini, CEO & Founder MondayCoffee

What was the impact on MondayCoffee? How is MondayCoffee different today than 20 years ago when you started your business? 

We used to sell our knowledge - from techies to techies - on an hourly basis as a classic service provider. Today, we are a service provider and a software vendor at the same time. In 2010 we launched the first version of CoffeeNet. Instead of doing everything from scratch for each company with the same result, we developed an out-of-the-box software that ensures an optimal configuration of Microsoft 365 and improves the user experience. 

The discussion shifted to the end user and from the technology itself to what the technology can do. Today adoption is on everyone's lips. But 10 years ago, it was very unusual for a technology vendor to talk to end users. Suddenly, we were no longer just sitting at the table with IT, but were invited by communications managers, HR managers and COOs to help them establish a digital way of working. 

In the year 2017 the Office in Munich was opened

20 years ago, we were only operating in Switzerland. Since then, we have opened an office in Germany and also serve German and Austrian companies. We have sales partners in other European countries and are able to acquire new customers around the globe. The cloud takes us everywhere and I am convinced that MondayCoffee will become even more international. 

Speaking of MondayCoffee: How many times have you been asked what is behind this name? What does coffee have to do with working digitally? 

I can count on my hand how many times I haven't been asked. BlackWidow21 and other exotic names were on the whiteboard at that time, when we were looking for names over beer and bratwurst. MondayCoffee was the one we liked best. If ever I made a good marketing decision, it was the choice of name. Exactly because the name is misleading, everyone remembers - that we are different from the others. 

“If ever I made a good marketing decision, it was the choice of name. Exactly because the name is misleading, everyone remembers - that we are different from the others. ”

— Reto Meneghini, CEO & Founder MondayCoffee

What makes MondayCoffee different? 

We are real experts and users of Microsoft products. But we don’t talk to customers about the products or the technology, but what they can do with them. We don't go for the classic feature talk when we present our product but show how we work with it and what the advantages are for the end users. Because they are often overwhelmed by the variety of Microsoft tools. We simplify their life with CoffeeNet 365 and by providing with use cases they can choose from leaving the configuration of Microsoft tools to the algorithms. 

We often hear you say: digitization starts with the employees. Have all employees now become digital overnight because they had to work digitally out of necessity? 

Collaboration still too often happens over e-mail, with a file server and a telephone. Although technologies to make teamwork more flexible, more efficient and easier have been around for 20 years. Companies are simply overwhelmed. They want to become more digital, but then they realize that the adoption of a digital way of working is more complex and it is easier to stay the same. 

In recent weeks, however, familiar patterns have had to be abandoned. Suddenly, everyone switches on their camera when talking over Microsoft Teams. Technologies for video conferencing have been around for over 10 years, and it was Corona that really made us aware of the added value. 

For example, we recently conducted training sessions on Microsoft Teams for a customer. Originally it was planned that we would concentrate the training on one or two days and hold it physically. Because we also always thought that was better. It turns out that several but shorter training sessions via video are even better received. The same applies to contract negotiations. I was always the first to say that you have to be on site for negotiations. Being able to look the buyer in the eye. The last few weeks have taught me the opposite. If this challenging time has had one positive effect, it is that myths have been dispelled and entrenched processes have been changed for the better, even for us. 

“If this challenging time has had one positive effect, it is that myths have been dispelled and entrenched processes have been changed for the better, even for us. ”

— Reto Meneghini, CEO & Founder MondayCoffee

What about the impact of this digitalization push on other companies? 

In times of need, we had to, or rather were allowed to, concentrate on the real added value of digitization. All of a sudden it became clear how important digitization is for our economy. For ourselves. Many will invest even more in digitization in the future. 

What I am personally very pleased about, as a long-standing advocate, is that the potential for home office for service countries (such as Switzerland and also Germany) is now finally being addressed. Many companies and employees will have noticed that home office is a good alternative. A taboo has been broken. 

What shall we do now to make sure this push for digitization does not fizzle out? 

Many people now know how video conferencing over Microsoft Teams works. But digital collaboration goes far beyond that. How and where do we store data so that it can be retrieved even after a long time? How do we plan tasks, work together on confidential documents? Every work scenario must be analyzed, and the best possible use of Microsoft tools understood and implemented. 

Let’s have a look into the crystal ball. How do you see the celebrations of MondayCoffee's 30th birthday? 

If I had looked into the crystal ball 20 years ago and seen where we stand today, I would have said "Never". I'd rather concentrate with the team on today. We have plenty of work to do, because there is still an incredible amount of potential out there. 

Change will come. And I am happy that even at 20 years old we still feel young, dynamic and eager for change. 

Microsoft rolls out Office 365 in Switzerland: What can you expect?

Whether private or business - we all live in the cloud. But what does it mean in concrete terms to leave your business data completely in the hands of Microsoft? And what will change when Microsoft offers its Office 365 on its own data centers in Switzerland, which provide local and geo-redundant data residency? 

Back in the summer, we reported that the Microsoft Cloud will move into Switzerland in 2019. Recently, we were able to hold an exciting event with customers and prospects where everything revolved around this topic - with a focus on Office 365, which has been available for a few days now. 

Our conclusion: Whether in terms of productivity, efficiency or innovation, data management using cloud technology is the future. According to our CEO and founder Reto Meneghini, the infrastructure and organization behind the MS Azure and Office 365 Cloud is beyond all doubt. The security offered - the combination of confidentiality, integrity and resilient availability - is significantly higher than companies can achieve on their own. From now on, Swiss companies will also benefit from the cloud solution – with Swiss data centers. Find out about the most important changes here.  

Primo Amrein, Cloud Lead, Microsoft Switzerland

Your advantages with the Swiss Office 365 

More productivity, efficiency, security - or simply put flexible scalability? The benefits of the functions that are gradually being rolled out in the Swiss Microsoft Cloud are many. Primo Amrein, Cloud Lead of Microsoft Switzerland, tells us directly about the latest developments. 

As in other countries, Microsoft is building a cloud setup in Switzerland - with two geo-redundant data centers in Zurich and Geneva, where customer data is mirrored. The concept is that customers can store their data in the Microsoft cloud without leaving the country. The various services are currently being rolled out step by step. This will be of particular benefit to regulated industries that want to take advantage from Microsoft 365 security and compliance standards while at the same time rely on local data residency. Office 365 is now available. Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform will follow in the course of the next few months. 

Your advantages with the Swiss Microsoft Cloud: 

• Contractual obligation that customer data ‘at rest’ remain securely in Switzerland 

• Faster server access due to lower latency values (the actual speed boost depends on the actual network situation) 

• Office 365 pricing will continue to be offered by EU data centres (higher prices will be charged for Azure services) 

• The same compliance standards as Microsoft worldwide 

Up in the Sky is down to Earth! 

Where data is involved, there is also the potential for legal conflict. Klaus Krohmann, lawyer at BDO AG, shares his views on the legal aspects of this topic for Swiss companies and authorities: Basically, it is striking how unproblematic the Swiss Cloud is from a legal point of view - and that significant advantages can result from it. 

1. Retention regulations: A Swiss cloud offers the advantage that data can be delivered to Swiss authorities at any time and the functions of the cloud technology can be used. This is of particular benefit to government agencies, which can now also store sensitive data in the cloud. 

2. Data protection: The more sensitive the personal data, the more risky it is to store data abroad. This is a major advantage for a Swiss data residence. It also eliminates the need to inform people where their data is stored. 

3. Disclosure obligations: Local data storage has advantages, particularly in administrative proceedings, civil disputes and criminal proceedings. Access is easier and cheaper within Switzerland. 

Klaus Krohmann, Lawyer, BDO AG

CLOUD Act & Data Cloud: What does the law mean for the cloud? 

In European countries like Switzerland, different legal norms apply than in the United States. What is new is the potential for conflict that every new transnational technology brings with it on the subject of data protection. One example is the so-called CLOUD Act ("Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data"). This is an American law of 23 March 2018, which, despite its abbreviation, has nothing to do with the data cloud, but is aimed at the handling of data overseas. According to this law, IT service providers such as Microsoft are subject to an obligation to surrender data and must give US authorities access to stored data - even if the data is located outside the USA. The enforceability of this US law in other countries such as Switzerland, where in some cases contradictory legal norms apply, is highly controversial. This means that it is unclear how corresponding US criminal threats would result - regardless of whether the data is stored in the cloud or on an on-premise server. 

Ultimately, each company must decide for itself how to deal with such legal uncertainties. 

Would you like to learn more about Microsoft Swiss Cloud with Office 365? We would be happy to talk to you. 

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MondayCoffee now in the SharePoint Business Apps Partner Program!

Microsoft has selected MondayCoffee as Charter member for the SharePoint Business Apps Partner Program. MondayCoffee now joins a selected group of partners and can support customers even more effectively in unlocking their digital potential.   

Companies today need modern solutions to digitalize critical business processes. Hereby, the automation of recurring tasks plays a central role as it can simplify work for many participants and optimize customer service.    

Microsoft is one of the most influential providers in this field and supports organizations with numerous tools in the transformation of their business processes. Microsoft is partnering with top-tier system integrators (SIs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) as part of the SharePoint Business Applications Partner Program to deploy and drive these technologies in innovative and functional ways. Now also with MondayCoffee. 

MondayCoffee is already successfully on its way. For the international, family-run construction company Rhomberg Bau GmbH, three key processes were automated with Microsoft PowerApps, Power BI, Flow, SharePoint lists, Dynamics CRM and Outlook. Read the case study. 

Specializing in collaboration, MondayCoffee creates a trend-setting working environment for digitally high-performing organizations, teams and employees. The out-of-the-box collaboration software is based on Office 365 and SharePoint Business Apps. The Collaboration-Solution helps organizations get the most out of Microsoft technologies and improves their business-critical processes and workflows.  

As a Charter partner of the SharePoint Business Apps Partner Program, MondayCoffee is committed to growing with Microsoft and delivering better solutions to our customers.  

Don't be afraid of the cloud

Our SharePoint Master has recently shown the architecture and functionality of our CoffeeNet 365 collaboration solution to the SharePoint Patterns & Practices Community.

SharePoint PNP is a community-driven open-source project where Microsoft and external community members share their learnings concerning Office 365 and SharePoint implementation practices.

CoffeeNet 365 is built on SharePoint and offers customers an out-of-the-box and user-friendly cloud solution for communication, online collaboration and document management. With the development of CoffeeNet 365, MondayCoffee has evolved from being a classic system integrator (SI) towards an independent software vendor (ISV).

The session gives a good overview of the structure and the features of CoffeeNet 365 and shows that, so to speak, every screw has been adjusted carefully based on experience and real-world requirements. Without addressing all the technical details, the SharePoint Master's main message to the community was not to be afraid of the cloud. The cloud requires a technical reorientation. If successful, one can realize great projects. One example of this is CoffeeNet 365.

Click here to access the online session.

ALSO launches MondayCoffee collaboration solution in the Cloud Marketplace

January 31st, 2017

ALSO is expanding its Cloud Marketplace to include EspressoNet 365, a solution for small to medium-sized enterprises that facilitates collaboration with colleagues, customers, or suppliers in one virtual space, at the push of a button. Created by MondayCoffee, an award-winning Swiss Microsoft Gold certified partner, EspressoNet 365 is based on Microsoft Office 365 technology. With proven structure, design and features, it helps companies to manage their workflows intelligently, both internally and externally.

Order confirmations, proposals, bills – all relevant content can be stored in one place, easily accessed and co-edited by colleagues as well as shared with customers at any time, anywhere and on any device, supported by the security of the Microsoft enterprise software and cloud infrastructure. Instead of sending emails, news can be published on the same tool, or via more interactive features such as blogs to keep everyone up to date. 

“By introducing premium Office 365 add-ons to the ALSO Cloud Marketplace, we continue to demonstrate how users can get the most out of their existing services. EspressoNet 365 is a great example of our growing Vertical Cloud Services portfolio that is built to fit our customers’ needs, and we are delighted to have them as a partner,” said Thorlakur Thorgeirsson, Cloud ISV Manager at ALSO Holding AG.

EspressoNet 365 can be installed in less than one hour and, thanks to EspressoNet’s intuitive user interface, employees can be trained remotely in no more than one day.

“We are convinced that EspressoNet 365 can help professionals to simplify their work lives while enjoying the reliability and security of Microsoft technology. Partnering with ALSO allows us to take EspressoNet 365 onto the international stage and further promote effective collaboration practices. We are very much looking forward to working with ALSO,” said Reto Meneghini, founder and CEO of MondayCoffee.

For further information and access to the ALSO Cloud Marketplace, please visit: www.also.cloud.

The variety of digital business miracles

That's the theme of Microsoft's participation at CeBIT 2017 - the world's most important trade fair for the digitization of the economy and the society. At this year's fair Microsoft will showcase the variety and different ways how companies contribute to the digital miracle. They have compiled a digital map where you can see some best practice examples.

MondayCoffee at CeBIT 2017

We are very pleased to be among the 40 Microsoft partner companies, showing in Hannover (Hall 3, Stand J18, Koje ) from the 20th to 24th of March, examples of how the digital transformation can be approached.

We are also looking forward to the many Japanese companies who will present their highlights and innovations on the topics of Internet of Things, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence. The high-tech nation of Japan is this year's official CeBIT partner country.

Interested? Here you will find an overview of all CeBIT conferences and further information about the fair.

MondayCoffee strengthens position in Germany with a new office in Munich

MondayCoffee, an award-winning Swiss Microsoft Gold certified partner specializing in promoting effective collaboration practices, today opens its new office in Munich-Schwabing, Germany. Reto Meneghini, Founder and CEO MondayCoffee, comments: „With the opening of our new office we increase our presence on the important German market. We are very happy to move into our new facilities, and even more to have our partner Microsoft as our neighbor (media release available in German only).

MondayCoffee launches collaboration solution for SMEs

Easy to install, simple to use and effective to work with

Zurich, July 5th, 2016 – MondayCoffee, an award-winning Swiss Microsoft Gold certified partner specializing in promoting effective collaboration practices, today announced the launch of EspressoNet 365, a ready-to-use collaboration and document management solution for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that uses Microsoft Office 365 technology to its full potential.

Inspired by the tools that we use in our personal lives, SMEs are faced with the challenge of keeping their infrastructure professional, reliable and cost-effective. 

MondayCoffee developed EspressoNet 365 to give SMEs the opportunity to play in the league of the larger companies when it comes to collaborating with their customers, suppliers or even amongst employees; yet for a reasonable price and with features relevant to their needs.

Leveraging the state-of-the-art Microsoft Office 365 technology, EspressoNet 365 combines collaboration and document management features that simplify work for professionals in just one tool, with a very clear design and proven structure. At the push of a button, users are able to share and co-author documents, tasks or notes with everyone else, in a controlled environment, anytime, anywhere and on any device.

Right off the shelf

The adoption of EspressoNet 365 is simple, as it is based on Microsoft Office 365 technology. In addition to security and maintenance benefits, this also allows EspressoNet 365 to be cost effective, as businesses can keep their IT infrastructures within the Microsoft ecosystem. 

“EspressoNet 365 is installed in less than one hour and, thanks to EspressoNet’s intuitive user interface, employees can be trained remotely in no more than one day,” said Reto Meneghini, CEO MondayCoffee. “We have tested EspressoNet 365 with architects, headhunters and even with four employee start-ups, and the feedback was unanimous: combining the benefits of Microsoft technology with a simple, future-proof and ready-to-use interface, leads to an instant improvement in how to get business done.”

All-in-one, secure place

Order confirmations, proposals, bills; all relevant content can be stored in one place, easily accessed and co-edited by colleagues as well as shared with customers at any time – supported by the security of the proven Microsoft enterprise software and cloud infrastructure. Instead of sending emails, news can be published on the same tool, or via more interactive communication features such as blogs to keep everyone up to date. All the documents and information needed for keeping the business running are now right at everyone’s fingertips – whether on the laptop or tablet.  

“With our solution, SMEs get more value for their money. We are convinced that EspressoNet 365 can help every professional to simplify their way of working while enjoying the reliability and security of Microsoft technology,” stated Meneghini. 

“Based on Microsoft Office 365 technology, EspressoNet 365 enables our joint customers to benefit from the unique Microsoft value proposition by offering a simple yet comprehensive, ready-to-use collaboration solution,” said Rob Howard, director, Office 365 Ecosystem, Microsoft.

For more information, please visit: www.espressonet365.com 

Media contact:
MondayCoffee, Mark Albrecht, Director Corporate Development
Phone: +41 44 712 30 90, Email: media@mondaycoffee.com