The software manufacturer also matters

Mayer Ingenieure from Böblingen specialize in deep and road construction. With their specialized knowledge, they are in demand by cities and municipalities. The new customer is also a gain for BMSP software manufacturer Sta*Ware from Starnberg. As a beta tester, the engineering office provides new impulses for software development. Managing Director Michael Mayer reveals the advantages this brings and why the choice of software manufacturer is also important.

Streets, canals, and water pipes are vital lifelines without which cities and municipalities could not exist. As an engineering office for municipal deep and road construction, Mayer Ingenieure specialize in the long-term preservation of this infrastructure. "We see it as an important task to preserve these valuable facilities and to prepare them together with the municipalities for the requirements of the future," explains Managing Director Michael Mayer, describing the company's self-understanding, which has practically become part of the "DNA" of the company founded by Gottlob Mayer in 1926. With the takeover by his grandchildren Mark and Michael Mayer in the third generation, the engineering office focuses on the planning and maintenance of municipal infrastructure as well as technical and economic consulting.

Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P replaces several programs

In the company, specific programs for construction, tendering, calculation, or simulation are used, as well as for office and project management. At 10 PC workstations, the office and management software for planning offices (BMSP) Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P is employed, which recently replaced several programs in the office. In addition to a document management system and an email and appointment management program, an existing BMSP solution was also replaced. "Unfortunately, the software could not represent our processes in the necessary level of detail. Therefore, we were forced to decide to switch," comments Mayer on the software change. This marked the beginning of a longer selection process for the company. Mayer still remembers this challenging phase, alongside ongoing business operations: "Our staff member responsible for office organization initially documented our process flows. Based on this, a requirement list for the new BMSP software was compiled. We then used this specifications document as a basis for our market research." With the help of an online product comparison from the IWW Institute, the team from Mayer Ingenieure made an initial selection. Two programs were ultimately shortlisted, Mayer recalls: "We chose Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P for several reasons: Above all, everything is now under one roof – office and project management, document, email, and appointment management. In addition, we can consistently create and manage our fee offers and invoices. The continuous process system as well as the creation of individually customizable processes and tasks, including time bookings, also impressed us immediately." Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P follows a proven concept: The project structure can be generated directly from the order. The tasks of the individual service phases can also be called up automatically according to the HOAI or a specifically defined office workflow. This process-oriented way of working has the advantage that everything is documented and booked step by step, ensuring that no service is forgotten during billing.

Good support from the manufacturer

BMSP software is not off the shelf. Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P also had to be adapted to the individual office and project processes of Mayer Ingenieure – for example, to the specific tasks, workflows, templates for fee offers, evaluations, or printouts. Mayer was pleased with the manufacturer support: "Sta*Ware actively supported us during the software adaptation. This allowed us to work quickly, efficiently, and productively with the software. We are also very satisfied with the company’s service. A personal contact person is always available during business hours, and problems can be resolved quickly via remote access. We have had different experiences with other manufacturers. Short response times are very important when urgency arises." A key aspect specifically during the software transition was also the transfer of existing data, which the engineering office solved quite pragmatically: "We decided on a clean break and thus less effort. New projects were processed with the new program, and only selected documents from old projects were exported in Explorer format and imported, which worked relatively smoothly." For software manufacturer Sta*Ware, this new customer is a stroke of luck. With its specialized practical know-how, the engineering office is now not only an experienced tester of beta versions but also an important source of inspiration for software development. For example, the process engine, which allows workflows and tasks to be created and adjusted individually, or the reporting center for real-time evaluation, were expanded in several areas – for the benefit of all users. Mayer sees this as a classic win-win situation: "Since we are always interested in a software evolution tailored to our needs, but we are also pleased when other users benefit from it, the collaboration is a win for everyone involved."

As important as CAD, AVA & Co.

Meanwhile, Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P has become just as important a office tool as CAD, AVA & Co. Employee acceptance is also very good. Mayer suspects that this is partly due to their involvement in the software selection process: "The program is particularly popular because of the easy time tracking, central management, and automatic project assignment of emails, as well as the ability to access important functions via the app or to capture or compare data on the construction site. Setting up a home office workspace via a VPN connection is also quick and easy." Mayer especially appreciates the fee module: "For precise offers, we can directly access HOAI data, quickly determine the chargeable costs, and calculate the offer according to HOAI service descriptions, service phases, basic services, special services, additional costs, or surcharges, and then send it as a PDF via email. The cross-project real-time evaluation with a forecast is also a great help. This way, I always have an overview of individual processes, the project status in the individual service phases, the billing status, the budget, or liquidity." Another quality that Mayer appreciates in the program is its flexibility: "Every office can create its individual solution, which continuously evolves and helps companies to optimally offer their respective expertise to the customer." Further information: Sta*Ware EDV Beratung GmbH, Moosstraße 16, D-82319, Starnberg, Tel.: 08151 / 18795 20, info@staware.com, www.staware.com

Background information:

Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P: The holistic office and project management software for engineers and architects Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P enables more efficient workflows, simplified information distribution and communication, smooth process flows, and real-time evaluations. Key features include, for example, an integrated HOAI calculator with detailed partial and final invoices, seamless offer and order processes, individual project structures with processes and workflows, a unified and automated project filing system for all documents, emails, notes, processes, or tasks, real-time reporting, and a Win client, an app, and an online portal for mobile applications or integration of external project participants.

Sta*Ware GmbH: Sta*Ware EDV Beratung GmbH, based in Starnberg, has been specializing for over 20 years in the development and implementation of compact and innovative company solutions for SMEs. The areas of customer management (CRM), enterprise resource management (ERP), project management, document management (DMS), e-collaboration, controlling, and quality management are integrated into one system. Clients include engineering, architecture, and planning offices, prefabricated house manufacturers, property management, tax consultants, administrative authorities, and management consulting firms.