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Situation
BVE, one of Germany’s largest building cooperatives, needed to modernize its IT and upgrade its workstations to Windows 7, which its current host access solution didn’t support.
Solution
Deployed Reflection for IBM 2011, which provided a user-friendly interface and support for Windows 7 desktops.
Results
- Seamless migration to Windows 7
- Modernized user interface
- Integration with critical external applications
- Easy switch to a state-of-the-art .NET development environment
- Access to legacy systems via end-user mobile devices
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Bauverein der Elbgemeinden (BVE) is one of Germany’s largest building cooperatives, and Hamburg’s largest apartment provider, with nearly 20,000 members and 13,600 apartments. In terms of size, BVE is anything but a small fry in Hamburg’s real estate market. But because it answers to its members, rather than to its investors, BVE’s business model poses major challenges. As a result, the organization is dedicated to limiting its dividends, breaking even, and committing to assets.
BVE runs GES, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution tailored for the property sector and customized to meet its particular business process needs. Users access it via local workstations that interface with the mainframe. Software providers unfamiliar with the property industry and GES rarely venture into this highly specialized field.
A problem arose when BVE wanted to upgrade its workstations to Windows 7, which its current host access solution didn’t support. The building cooperative found itself between a rock and a hard place: How could it equip its IT for the future and make its ERP interface more user-friendly, while also maintaining its legacy system?
With the help of Attachmate, BVE addressed this challenge. Attachmate Reflection for IBM 2011 provided the host with a .NET front-end that seamlessly connects the ERP with the workstations. Attachmate’s Support and Consulting department also played a key role in the implementation.
Switching to .NET Was a Snap
BVE’s customized applications ran in a legacy development environment until the property cooperative decided to switch to a state-of-the-art .NET environment. Thanks to Reflection 2011, this migration was executed simply and painlessly.
BVE is also now able to integrate an external janitorial services application. Connected to the network by a terminal server, service personnel use BVE’s new software solution to keep track of maintenance jobs. The solution simplifies janitorial work since custodians no longer have to enter their tasks into the GES system. “We created an easy-to-use interface overlaying the GES interface. As soon as the janitors enter their data, it’s passed on to the GES system. This way they don’t have to deal with the sometimes cryptic abbreviations in GES,” said Volker Kunze, software developer for BVE.
By leveraging its MobileNow strategy and technologies, Attachmate helped BVE make its system more user-friendly in other ways too. BVE users now also have access to legacy systems via various end-user devices such as iPads, tablets, and Windows RT—in line with the cooperative’s forward-looking guidelines.
Reflection 2011: Seamless Integration with Office 2010 and Windows 7
Reflection for IBM 2011 provides a number of benefits: Host logins are automated, and users can define certain favorite functions and even create a history of recently queried functions. Certain processes trigger automated responses; for instance, when a bill is assigned to an account, the system checks in the background whether that task is a recourse or insurance issue, sending the user the appropriate message. The screen for opening invoices even generates a barcode in the user interface.
Reflection 2011 is also integrated with Office 2010, allowing users to insert host data into Word documents, emails, or PowerPoint slides with the click of a mouse. Reflection 2011 features a clipboard and a progress display, simplifying collaboration of host and Office applications.
BVE’s transition to the new Windows environment was so easy because Reflection 2011 is designed with Windows 7 in mind, and leverages its security and productivity features. “Thanks to Attachmate Reflection, migrating our clients to Windows 7 was a cinch,” said Kunze.
Modernizing IT While Maintaining a Legacy System
Reflection 2011 gives companies like BVE the flexibility they desire, while reducing the complexity of their IT. A new control function integrated in .NET also lets companies develop customized applications with Reflection terminal sessions as components. BVE’s IT is now ready for the future.
“You never know what the future holds and what the situation will be 15 years from now. But from today’s point of view, we are very pleased with our completely revamped IT. And we couldn’t have done it without Attachmate’s outstanding support. No matter how challenging this project got, we have always been able to rely on Attachmate,” said Kunze.
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