Van Ommen delivers with August Bridge
Van Ommen delivers with August Bridge
Van Ommen’s long standing relationship with August Bridge provides a futureproof solution to ensure its delivery promise is met.
Celebrating its 70th year in business in 2022, Van Ommen has grown to become one of Europe’s leading wholesale suppliers of manufacturing and engineering components. Based in Beekbergen, The Netherlands, Van Ommen believes its emphasis on reliability and providing exceptional service is key to its success.
Van Ommen’s Lasernet journey began in 2009 when it was installed by Formpipe as part of its Microsoft Dynamics AX installation, and subsequently migrated it to Dynamics 365 in 2017. Formpipe made the decision to focus solely on the development of Lasernet, which lead to two of its employees in its Benelux division opening a consultancy with a growing team of experienced people to work alongside Formpipe supplying services and expertise in Document Output Management. In 2020 the doors to August Bridge opened and Van Ommen reached out for the development of additional documents.
Mark Hollaar, ICT Manager, Van Ommen, said: “The owners of August Bridge were my original Lasernet contacts and proved to be very reliable, always acting in my best interest. They also implemented a number of solutions for us (technical highlights, not only Lasernet, but also the far-reaching Azure integration with Lasernet). When they saw the opportunity to start a Dutch Lasernet services consultancy, the decision to contract August Bridge was easy”.
A practical approach
Van Ommen also attributes its success to its people. Its team of practical minded people are able to offer solutions to complex issues, adding to the customer experience. This customer experience is further enhanced by the company’s ‘ordered before 7 PM, shipped the same day throughout Europe’ at a 98,5% availability rate for more than 25,000 products.
“In order to be able to provide the far-reaching service, the underlying IT infrastructure must be reliable. Our systems run in Azure, where possible on SAAS solutions. We have very advanced stock optimization systems and strict management of logistics as our delivery promise can only be fulfilled if it is organised well,” added Mark.
A practical approach
Van Ommen also attributes its success to its people. Its team of practical minded people are able to offer solutions to complex issues, adding to the customer experience. This customer experience is further enhanced by the company’s ‘ordered before 7 PM, shipped the same day throughout Europe’ at a 98,5% availability rate for more than 25,000 products.
“In order to be able to provide the far-reaching service, the underlying IT infrastructure must be reliable. Our systems run in Azure, where possible on SAAS solutions. We have very advanced stock optimization systems and strict management of logistics as our delivery promise can only be fulfilled if it is organised well,” added Mark.
"We see August Bridge more as an external colleague than a supplier of a software package,”
Mark Hollaar, ICT Manager, Van Ommen
Designed with the future in mind
With the next 70+ years in mind, Van Ommen wanted a solution fit for tomorrow. The decision was made to separate document output from Dynamics 365 to eradicate the need to change the reports and documents in future versions. As Lasernet is able to combine several input sources, this was made possible and enabled Van Ommen to be 100% flexible in their output.
Mark commented: “Over the years we have overcome many challenges. Combining information from external sources to Microsoft Dynamics output, integrating Azure Storage and security, realizing output for various digital output channels from the same source, the list goes on. This was made possible thanks to the relationship that had been formed between August Bridge and ourselves”.
Designed with the future in mind
With the next 70+ years in mind, Van Ommen wanted a solution fit for tomorrow. The decision was made to separate document output from Dynamics 365 to eradicate the need to change the reports and documents in future versions. As Lasernet is able to combine several input sources, this was made possible and enabled Van Ommen to be 100% flexible in their output.
Mark commented: “Over the years we have overcome many challenges. Combining information from external sources to Microsoft Dynamics output, integrating Azure Storage and security, realizing output for various digital output channels from the same source, the list goes on. This was made possible thanks to the relationship that had been formed between August Bridge and ourselves”.
Two cultures perfectly aligned
“At August Bridge we pride ourselves on building long lasting relationships with our clients based on trust and providing the highest level of service possible. We have worked with Van Ommen for many years over a wide variety of projects, all of which have been a pleasure. It’s fantastic to see a company with the same values as August Bridge reach its 70th anniversary. We hope the relationship between our two organisations lasts for many more years to come,” said the founders of August Bridge.
“August Bridge fits in with the Van Ommen culture. Easy to reach via an efficient Q&A ticket
system, along with forward thinking, honest and open advice that draws attention to any possible future problems. We see August Bridge more as an external colleague than a supplier of a software package,” concluded Mark.