Success story at BHDT

New role for IT

The internationally active company is fundamentally very well positioned in terms of IT and largely automated production processes in line with Industry 4.0. “We are incredibly modern for the size of our company and have worked intensively on digitalising our processes in recent years,” explains Christoph Krenker, Chief Information Officer at BHDT and the Dr. Aichhorn Group.

The real challenge for his IT team is choosing the right partner: “Finding the best product and the best partner.” Krenker sees his and his department’s role accordingly: “Together with the management, we are driving forward digitalisation within the company. We are proud of this. We don’t see ourselves as a traditional IT department, but as a digitalisation department.” He adds by way of explanation: “Our management has a very good understanding of IT. Not only in terms of specific expertise, but also the importance of digitalising processes and investing in solid software solutions was understood in the company a long time ago.”

Since the advent of I4.0, the focus has been on fully digitalised production and manufacturing. As a result, there is also a high level of cost transparency.

The best solution needs the best partner

The reason for the completed project, workflow automation in accounting, was that in many cases invoices were still being approved in paper form or with document scans created individually by the departments. With all the resulting consequences such as a lack of transparency, tracking and approval. A standardised workflow solution was therefore sought and was quickly found in the “xSuite”. The solution of the same name from the German manufacturer xSuite Group GmbH, which describes the topic of incoming invoice processes within SAP as its core competence, is designed to automate the plausibility and content check of invoices. One of the major advantages of this solution is that it can be fully integrated into the core SAP system, there are no media disruptions due to additional software applications and the user remains in their familiar working environment.

„We always opt for the best product and the best partner.“
(DI Christoph Krenker)

The search for a suitable implementation partner was also quick. Only two were seriously considered as IT partners. The contract was finally awarded in favour of ZELMION GmbH, based in Vienna, which, according to Krenker, “was the best right from the start.”

“Pandemic-related” project coordination

In an initial personal meeting between BHDT and ZELMION, the basic principles were agreed. Ms Renate Tögelhofer, Head of Finance & Controlling, was brought in from BHDT to coordinate the project. Her task was to bring in the finance-specific departmental knowledge and to ensure that the wishes and needs of all BHDT departments involved were met. “Without Mrs Tögelhofer, the xSuite would not exist in this function,” says Krenker. Mrs Tögelhofer formulates her commitment a little more soberly: “My job was to keep an eye on our product strategy and the target we were aiming for.”. Which was successful: “We got rid of the paperwork in one fell swoop and now have a secure, transparent and sustainable solution that runs through the entire company.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all further contacts were held online via video conference. This was a novelty for both sides, but did not detract from the success.

„Production is our digitalised hobbyhorse.“
(DI Christoph Krenker)

The project was completed in a very short time (within six months) and in time for BHDT’s 2021 financial year-end. “We were never left hanging, there was always a contact person there for us,” says Mrs Tögelhofer, drawing a very satisfactory conclusion.

The computer must “humanise”

The implementation of the xSuite at BHDT by ZELMION shows how to do justice to the advancing digitalisation and what prerequisites need to be in place within the company. The human element also needs to be taken into account: employees’ fears of new IT solutions and potential job losses need to be allayed.

BHDT was well aware of these concerns. For this reason, an attempt was made to counteract this in advance by involving specialist staff in the xSuite implementation process. As a result, the advantages of the new solution were generally recognised and accepted by all employees. “The structured workflow has given the power over accounting processes back to the people,” summarises Ms Tögelhofer.

The xSuite implementation at BHDT was also a successful project for ZELMION in every respect. A first follow-up order has already been completed and others are in the pipeline. Because, says Krenker: “In ZELMION, we have a partner that fits very well into our portfolio.”

„We have never been left hanging. There was always someone to talk to.“
(Renate Tögelhofer)