Retail Bouw Nederland has been active since 2005 in the construction and renovation of real estate, utility buildings, and shopping centers. They work for major brands like H&M, de Bijenkorf, C&A, and Dela. A professional appearance is essential — and that includes their ICT environment. “IT isn’t the heart of construction, but it’s indispensable for our operations,” says Pascal Winters, co-director. That’s why Retail Bouw Nederland chose to partner with Harbers ICT.
When renewing their IT infrastructure, Retail Bouw Nederland wanted to make the right choices. “Some say: ‘Go to the cloud,’ others say: ‘Stay local.’ We wanted a partner who thinks along with us,” Pascal explains. Harbers ICT stood out with their personal approach: a thorough assessment of the current situation, insight into used software, and tailored advice aligned with the company’s goals.
Those goals? A secure working environment, protection against cyber threats like crypto viruses, fast-performing applications, and an ICT partner that grows with the organization.
On Harbers ICT’s advice, Retail Bouw Nederland began transitioning to the cloud. Implementing Microsoft 365 and cloud-based email brought more flexibility, lower costs, and always up-to-date software. Employees can now log in securely from any device and collaborate on documents.
For heavy applications like AutoCad, which require significant computing power and storage, local systems are still used. Project folders are shared via a NAS, ensuring everyone has access to the right files. “Digitalization also means we can measure and set out directly within AutoCad,” Pascal adds.
Retail Bouw Nederland has been working mobile for years. Site managers and carpenters use iPhones and powerful laptops, fully configured and managed by Harbers ICT. These laptops are equipped with VPN solutions, ESET antivirus, and Bitlocker encryption — keeping company data safe even if a device is lost or stolen.
Microsoft Intune is currently being rolled out. This allows centralized device management, automatic updates, and remote wiping if necessary. “That gives us peace of mind. We know our data is safe, even if something goes wrong,” says Pascal.
One of the major benefits of working with Harbers ICT is having a dedicated contact person. “Our engineer visits monthly. He knows our company, our people, and our systems. That works quickly and reliably,” Pascal says. The helpdesk is also easily accessible and often provides remote support via TeamViewer.
ICT continuity is ensured with daily backups to two locations. In the new sustainable building, fire separations have been installed around server and patch cabinets. Every year, Retail Bouw Nederland and Harbers ICT evaluate whether the ICT environment still aligns with business processes and explore new opportunities for further digitalization.
“It doesn’t matter to us whether something runs locally or in the cloud,” Pascal concludes. “What matters is that it works fast, is secure, and that we can rely on our ICT partner.”
With the rise of cloud services, mobile devices, and stricter security requirements, ICT management is becoming increasingly complex. Harbers ICT helps construction companies like Retail Bouw Nederland with a future-proof, secure, and efficient ICT environment.
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