Pioneer Spirit anywhere – for the right EDP too
When in the Fifties farming had to give way to the construction of Kloten’s airport the Eberhard Brothers recognised construction as their new chance. First commissions came from soil improvement as well as road and street construction, these were necessary to link little farming areas. The still ongoing successful commission series began in 1958 with the planning of the airport hangar no. 2.
Forerunners for an ecologic future
Meanwhile in Switzerland the name Eberhard has become a synonym for high quality and ecology in soil and civil engineering, building recycling, cleaning up of dangerous waste. The enterprise group firms have proven to be mere pioneers. They know how to join old and market dominated areas with new needs, innovation and market services. In this way they have become leading supplier of renovations and their implementation technologies. They set the standard for building recycling. More than 90% of delivered gravel and concrete are recycling products. The use of first class recycled concrete is now a paradigm.
On a daily basis the 270 employees make their contribution to good results and the increase of the enterprise group’s positive image, this is made possible by a high degree of engagement, good organization, the outstanding know how of all specialist teams, modern machinery and tool equipment supported by efficient EDP tools.
We talked to Heinz Eberhard, head of the service head quarters and member of the management. He belongs to the brothers second generation that gives the family Enterprise Eberhard plc its character.
When he first came into the firm, at the beginning of the Eighties, for the salaries he had to use a calculator. Later on the salary and financial accountancy had to be handed over to an external accountancy centre. But since data and outcome controlling was not time efficient enough the EDP was absorbed by the enterprise.
The best tools for motivated people
In 2000 an invoicing software was introduced in the building material sector. In a long time horizon perspective they were already thinking of a common EDP solution for the planned holding structure of all Eberhard Enterprises. The Swiss EDP market was not offering such solution. Since a while Heinz Eberhard was following reports in building specialized press, and they were stating the growing interest of German and Swiss enterprises in Bau financials, a modern solution for the construction sector. At Frutiger plc in Thun and Brunner Erben in Zürich, Mr. Eberhard and some others convinced themselves that the use of the program offered a wide range of functional solutions. What mentioned so far, and the users’ experience, made Bau financials and the system firm Henke und Partner everybody’s favourite. After a fusion in 2002 the company was named Nemetschek Bausoftware.
Heinz Eberhard argues: “It is a real solution for the sector, and it really covers all needs of the building and construction industry. It can deal with everything starting from financial, salary and plant bookkeeping, to tools location and management, up to a full integrated invoicing of the recycling and concrete transport delivery note through the Trab Modul.
The system is supported by the efficient Navision data base.The application of the software is very stable, easy to understand and most versatile in its utilization. It is possible to edit a lot on the screen and for printing purposes. Therefore there is also a Designer-Tool. You realize that everything in the program has been set for the construction industry since the programming phase. Nothing has been modified or adapted. And whenever you have problems or special requirements you feel that Nemetschek really is committed to the customer and to accomplish with all his needs. This is very important for us.”
Partners you can trust.
Since 2001 a step by step implementation was chosen and it started with the training of the future users. Mid 2002 for the smaller enterprises a central financial bookkeeping was started. The already past months were recorded. This was going to be additional work, but it was also the best training. After that the software was well known. With the financial year 2003 the program was started in the construction plc. Today Bau financials is the core enterprise software. And all other existing enterprise software like production control of recycling, mixing plant or dispensing management are linked to Bau financials via interfaces that exchange the data directly. Heinz Eberhard says: “Keeping the central data storage as little as possible avoids double management efforts. The crucial point is that every user should get data, information and evaluation in the form he/she needs them. Approx. 50 people from different branches of the group are currently working with Bau financials, from the management to the building site executives. Through the cost analysis they can book the debit and bookings of their construction sites. On the screen everybody can click on each cost centre booking and see what it is in the corresponding reference. They know what quantities can be influenced and what quantities are business influenced. In this way they can compare their actual values and intervene if necessary. Some master the system almost intuitively. Others think that the system is something for accountants and EDP specialists only. I can accept that. No one is forced to use it. The ones who still value traditional written evaluations can get them.” He relies on time and on the exchange of experiences. The use of computers will push through.
Moreover on the use of the program Mr. Eberhard says “To me besides calculating cost bearers also liquidity planning with Bau financials is very important. A preview for the next three months with all expected in and outgoing payments help recognise possible liquidity bottle-necks in advance. In this way the credit planning is better under control.”.
High shelves storage in a construction site?
He explains: “The idea came with our plant’s move. The aim was to store and have easy access to building material, working tools, additional machinery, oil, spare and wear and tear out parts, installation material and a lot more like water pumps. We had about 7000 articles on 1200 pallet spaces and we had to keep an overview on everything, for this purpose an EDP controlled high shelve is ideal. The software determines and saves the storage place of an item and gives the freight elevator the best way to reach it. The changes in stock are up to dated by the stock room software and Bau financials in real time. Everything that goes out of store is charged to the destination costs centre immediately, in case of a delivery to a third party an invoice is issued. A partial return of goods is seen as a buying, like an internal service settlement. With this material management we are flexible. Now Bau financials has been introduced in the whole enterprise group. With this system we accomplished everything we wanted to reach. The following phase will carry the expected rationalization effects with it. We are sure we met the right choice!”.