Valuable insights
Bizzomate business design workshops deliver valuable insights for precast concrete element supplier
Onboarding customers more efficiently
Voorbij Prefab in Amsterdam makes precast concrete elements for new homes used in large new construction projects. The company is part of TBI, one of the largest construction companies in the Netherlands. To further expand services, Voorbij Prefab decided to start installing the frames in the precast concrete elements for homes at the factory site. Previously, this was done at the construction site. Ensuring that the right frames ended up in the right concrete elements and that they were easily retrievable required a greater understanding of this process. In addition to providing software solutions, Bizzomate provided several customized workshops and organized three business design sessions. These provided valuable insights and formed the basis for improving this process.
- Greater insight into business processes
So as to make the process more efficient. - Locating frames more easily
So that time is saved. - The right frame in the right concrete element
As a result, fewer resources are wasted.
Challenge: Locating and inspecting window frames
When Voorbij Prefab chose to pre-install the frames in their concrete elements on the factory site, they ran into a number of problems. First, it was not clear where the frames were on their property. These are supplied by outside parties and then placed on site. Because this was not a streamlined logistics process and the location of frames was not tracked, it was sometimes unclear whether or not a frame had been delivered, or was simply untraceable.
In addition, it was not always clear which type of frame belonged to which concrete element. As a result, window frames were sometimes misplaced in the concrete elements. In addition, some window frames were damaged. It was then unknown whether the damage had occurred at Voorbij Prefab’s construction site or whether the window frames had been delivered damaged.
Application for locating window frames.
Beyond Prefab wanted to improve this process and solve these problems. That’s why they contacted Bizzomate. Two years ago, Bizzomate implemented the “Flapp” project at Beyond Prefab. They developed an application that could locate the metal frames (flats) on which concrete elements are transported to the construction site. With a similar problem, Bizzomate was called in again.
Solution: start with business design workshops
Jan Boekel, scrum master at Bizzomate: “Because of our previous project at Voorbij Prefab, we already knew each other well and had a nice collaboration. However, we know that with any new project, the preliminary process is essential. That’s why we started with the basics: business design workshops.
Three online workshops
Bizzomate organized three workshops. Participants included the production manager, foreman and planner from Voorbij Prefab and three people from Bizzomate.
During the first workshop, each step of the process surrounding the delivery of the frames was precisely mapped out. A Miroboard was used for this purpose, which allows business processes to be drawn out very easily. The second and third workshops also closely analyzed the impact of the problem and the consequences of automating or not automating the process.
The workshops yielded some important results. By mapping out the current process step by step, Voorbij Prefab was already gaining more insight into how they could make the process around window frame delivery less error-prone, more manageable and more transparent. But first an important decision had to be made about whether or not to integrate functionality for frames into the existing application.
Says Jan, “Thanks to the business design workshops, we found out that TBI might want to further integrate the process of delivering the frames and concrete elements in the future. This made it seem logical to build the functionality within one application. Moreover, we discovered that the employees who assemble the frames sometimes also work in ‘Flapp’ and therefore prefer not to switch apps. Therefore, we recommended integrating the functionality for scanning the frames into the existing application. That was a little more difficult for us to build, but a lot more user-friendly for the employees.”
Beyond Prefab on the digital solution for managing the logistics process
All data bundled in one place
The biggest advantage of the revamped “Flapp” application, a result of the findings of the business design workshops, is that all data for both concrete elements and frames are now bundled in one place. The entire process from drawing the frames to delivery and installation in the concrete elements is now being followed. All information such as the location and serial number of frames and concrete elements is recorded and can be easily accessed. Employees can therefore react more quickly to a delivery with too many or too few frames and take immediate action on reported damage to the frames.
Because Bizzomate looks beyond just building an application and is convinced that the core of a problem cannot always be captured in an application, but sometimes in another internal process or new agreements with a supplier, a number of changes were made to the process. Arrangements with suppliers, for example, have been streamlined thanks to the workshops. From now on, they should always send a delivery note so that it is clear which frames will be delivered when.
Importance workshops business design
Lisa Rooijakkers, production manager at Voorbij Prefab: “Bizzomate looks at the complete process and has given us excellent advice in this process. Because they have paid so much attention to the preliminary process, they can now develop solutions quickly and in a focused manner.”
Jan: “We have learned over the years that if you fully identify all essential information in the preliminary phase, you will benefit from it later in the process and avoid many problems. By spending sufficient time on this in the preliminary phase, we ensure that we start off focused and well-prepared from the first day of the actual project. The customer thereby saves costs because we do not build unnecessary functionality. As far as we are concerned, starting an automation project with business design workshops is an absolute requirement for successfully building applications.”
Related:
- All data bundled in one app
By applying insights from business design workshops. - User-friendly data entry
By adding new functionality within the existing app. - Efficient app building
By gathering the right information in the preliminary stages.
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