Do not let the push for digitization fizzle out

With the Corona crisis, the digitalization of the world of work is experiencing a boost. Many employees had to use different tools in a very short time to ensure continued communication and collaboration within the company. Microsoft Teams, for example, registered 2.7 billion meeting minutes in one day. 

But what happens when we return to the office? How do we make sure that we use this digitization push to fully digitize the way we work? 

3 THINGS YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO: 

Look at it from a broader perspective 

During this crisis, Microsoft Teams is for many what WhatsApp is for us in our private life. A tool that allows me to communicate directly with many participants via chat, call or video and to hold online meetings. But a digital way of working goes beyond communication. Topics such as structured digital document storage, uniform cross-departmental collaboration or a sustainable exchange of knowledge are just as much a part of it. Our recommendation: open the perspective, deepen the understanding of the different digital work scenarios in order to establish a structured, digital way of working.  

Automate the usage of tools in a controlled way 

Microsoft offers a variety of tools to work more productively. Everyone knows Microsoft Teams by now and this momentum should also be used to get one step closer to the digital workplace. However, before employees set out on their own to navigate through the jungle of different Microsoft technologies, we recommend that you take this into your own hands for the entire organization and understand where which technologies should be used in a controlled manner, based on concrete digital work scenarios and use cases. We have solved this with our Modern-Workplace-Solution in such a way that, depending on the defined work scenario or use case, the Microsoft technologies are automatically configured in the background and the employee does not have to worry about the choice of technologies, but can concentrate on his tasks. 

Accompany employees and teams 

During the crisis, many employees were and are forced to quickly familiarize themselves with digital tools. Some have certainly recognized the advantages of a digital way of working and are motivated to move on towards the digital workplace. They need to be accompanied on this path - especially those who still have trouble getting rid of old habits. We recommend that companies seek the exchange with employees, collect their feedback on their current experiences in the digital home office and use the momentum to establish a digital way of working together with them.   

We have been helping companies for some time now to establish a digital way of working in their organization - with our Modern Workplace Solution for Microsoft 365.  

If you are interested in an exchange of experiences, we would be pleased to hear from you.  

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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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RHOMBERG BAU: Family-owned construction company uses Microsoft 365 to unlock its digital potential

Rhomberg Bau GmbH, a fourth-generation family-owned international construction company, specializing in construction, resources, and railway technology, has started its journey of digitization. MondayCoffee, a trusted Microsoft Gold Partner, is supporting Rhomberg Bau on this important project, helping them take the fast track wherever possible to enable Rhomberg’s stakeholders to experience the benefits of digitalization.

For Rhomberg, MondayCoffee combined Office 365, Dynamics CRM and Azure. Using Microsoft PowerApps, Power BI, Flow, SharePoint lists, Dynamics CRM, and Outlook, three key processes of Rhomberg were automated, simplifying collaboration, reducing time expenditure, and increasing transparency.

Focusing on what matters most!

The company Emmi is Switzerland's largest diary processor.

Everywhere and anytime. This is what many people expect at work. Employees also work increasingly with colleagues and externals without sitting anywhere close to them. However, it has become crucial to collaborate efficiently, easily and in a professional manner to achieve the defined objectives. A case in point is the introduction of a company-wide ERP system. 

Lukas Fischer, project manager in the Corporate Development team at Emmi, Switzerland's largest dairy processor, was part of the successful implementation of their new ERP system based on SAP between 2012 and 2017. The certainty that Emmi would not be able to deal without an integrated ERP system was matched with equally large respect: this was a huge project with many unknown factors at the start. 

Lukas Fischer implemented, with the help of EmmiNet, a new ERP system at Emmi.

"Every core process is affected by the introduction of such a system: countless stakeholders, countless meetings, and a never-ending number of new people who have to be onboarded and get involved as quickly as possible," explains Lukas Fischer the situation. “How can we make sure that everyone in the project team is connected intelligently and that we do not have to spend too much time with administration and IT issues?” These were the questions the project team had right from the beginning. 

Efficient collaboration – agile progress 

Questions that were easy to answer at Emmi. As early as 2009, Emmi started to facilitate the company-wide collaboration across its various businesses. "We wanted to enable our employees to become more efficient and agile in their collaboration. Everyone had to be able to access relevant information and existing knowledge quicker and more effectively, as well as to communicate and collaborate digitally with all involved parties, from within the company and with externals. That was the goal. 

EmmiNet - the name of the SharePoint-based solution at Emmi - crystallized as a future-oriented and sustainable platform. Emmi’s operating system was already Microsoft Office at that time, and that had to remain unchanged. Hence, a professional Microsoft-compatible platform had to be found to prepare the company for its digital transformation. 

Every core process is affected by the introduction of an ERP system. Thanks to EmmiNet all involved people in the project were intelligently connected with each other.

No file shares, less emails 

"CoffeeNet, the collaboration solution by MondayCoffee, sparked our interest not just of its original name," the application managers summed up. "We were presented an out-of-the-box and user-friendly platform that allowed us to work more efficiently and effectively, from a collaboration, communication and an enterprise-wide document management point of view. That, of course, was exactly what we needed”, Lukas Fischer recalls. 

File shares and thousands of emails with attachments were gradually becoming something of the past. Needless to say, the project workers needed time to get used to the new way of working. However, they quickly familiarized themselves with the benefits of this collaboration platform and made good use of it. 

The concept and implementation phases of the ERP project were entirely handled over EmmiNet. All project members can access the various documents in virtual workspaces, working together at the same time and from any device. Project updates or meeting notes can be placed at the same location, where the task lists and documents are also stored, "Lukas Fischer explains. "This has helped us to focus on what really mattered." 

The rollout of the ERP project across the entire group will also take place on the EmmiNet as it allows our international colleagues to access relevant information and data quickly and easily. 

Ongoing development 

For Thomas Pizzolato the implementation of CoffeeNet is much more of a business project requiring intense change management.

In parallel to the ERP rollout, Emmi's application managers developed the EmmiNet further and also switched from a on-premise to an online solution, based on SharePoint Online / Office 365. "We focused on user-friendliness, modern and intuitive design, and a strong search function", explains the SharePoint team leader at Emmi, Thomas Pizzolato. 

"We handed over the responsibility for the daily administration of EmmiNet to the business. In other words, they had to decide what kind of workspaces they wanted to use for what kind of topic and with whom”, Thomas Pizzolato summarizes the most relevant change that came with the new development. That’s why adopting the new way of working away from file shares and towards SharePoint technology is not an IT project, but much rather a business project with a large change component. "But once the users are familiar with the advantages, they don’t’ want to go back.” Precisely because one can focus on what matters most!

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.

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