W. MARKGRAF GmbH & Co KG
Powerful software package for everyday construction work
Construction documentation, defect, image and interface management
SAP branch in Eschborn, Microsoft building in Munich, MOTEL ONE in Bonn, … – for over a decade now, the successful company MARKGRRAF has been realising a large number of renowned construction projects with edr software’s digital solutions. The business relationship began in Munich with the mydocma RP construction diary and has intensified considerably to date. The general contractor now uses mydocma MM for defect management and fire protection documentation, mydocma PIX for image management and mydocma SH for uncomplicated synchronisation with the client’s defect management systems at several locations.
Initial situation
Word, Excel, overloaded servers and lots of paper
‘Until the introduction of mydocma RP, the construction diary was a loose-leaf collection of carbon copies,’ reports Petra Nothacker from the Munich site. The implementation of mydocma PIX was accelerated because the server was threatening to burst at the seams due to the large amount of photo data and images were difficult to find due to inconsistent storage. ‘Defects were initially managed in Excel spreadsheets and the associated correspondence was generated from Word. All documents were collected in paper form in folders,’ explains Udo Döhler, Head of Warranty at the Bayreuth branch. In plain language, this meant: ‘A lot of time was invested in looking things up and searching.’ As a result, the management decided to organise the recurring work processes using suitable software.
Solution
Four digital helpers from a single source
At MARKGRAF, edr software implemented mydocma MM as an in-house solution and mydocma RP, mydocma PX and mydocma SHE as cloud applications via corresponding training blocks. Digital products from other providers that were trialled for the same subject areas were ultimately not used, as they could not keep up with the maturity level of the software from the Munich-based IT service provider. Petra Nothacker from the Munich branch emphasises: ‘The various edr software modules essentially have the same operation and can communicate well with each other, which makes them easier to use.’ For example, photos from the mydocma PX image management system can be integrated into the mydocma RP construction diary at the touch of a button.
In defect management, mydocma MM supports the company in both the execution and warranty phases. In order to be able to pass on individual configuration requirements, e.g. for field names, letter templates, etc., the construction company formed a group with contact persons from the respective branch offices. All the threads come together in the competence team – it ensures coordination across locations, serves as a standardised mouthpiece and provides internal training if necessary.
‘edr software was able to realise the majority of our wishes immediately during the implementation – the remaining points were considered during the next update,’ says Udo Döhler. Andrea Ebertz, a member of the competence group from the Bayreuth office, praises: ‘Thanks to the knowledge of the technical interrelationships, we are always offered optimal solutions to problems.’
Benefits and advantages
Great efficiency gains – without paperwork
The key users at MARKGRAF see a central benefit in the fast collective processing – whether, for example, to inform all responsible companies about the building damage after inspections using the serial letter function or to report several defects at once. ‘mydocma MM maps the defect process with all intermediate steps. We can access it at any time, from any location and, unlike in Excel, at the same time,’ says warranty manager Döhler. He comments on the intuitive usability: ‘One highlight is the drag-and-drop principle, which makes it easy to add files or emails to the respective processes.’
In some projects, the general contractor and its clients also benefit from mydocma SHARE in defect management. The interface application automatically synchronises the defect data from their systems, eliminating the need for error-prone manual transfer work on both sides. It makes no difference whether the business partner also uses mydocma MM or another digital solution for defect tracking – the integration software works universally.
According to Petra Nothacker, who has been familiar with edr software’s modules for many years, networking with mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets and the associated fast scanning of defects or filing of images on site saves an enormous amount of time. ‘Thanks to the keywording and the numerous filter options in PIX, we can now find photos much faster – without burdening our own server capacities.’ The integrated image reports are also an advantage for quality control. The digital construction diary mydocma REPORT makes a major contribution to the traceability of processes on the construction site and is an effective tool for archiving or for providing evidence in disputed cases.
Conclusion
Reliable systems and services
‘They get help here’ – Andrea Ebertz, key user in warranty management, comments on the personalised customer support at edr software with this well-known advertising slogan. According to her, enquiries via the support hotline or by ticket via Freshdesk are processed within a very short time. She summarises: ‘The software solutions are clearly structured, many things are self-explanatory, they ensure a standardised procedure and guarantee transparent collaboration.’ Thanks to the standardised letters, the reminder functions for recurring processes, the import and export options for data and the clear assignment of rights and roles in the user administration, the error rate is close to zero.
Quality assurance with mydocma AP
MARKGRAF is in the process of rolling out the aforementioned solutions even further within the company and is currently considering introducing software for quality inspection during construction. In this context, the latest product from edr software, mydocma AP, is being discussed. The central platform allows checklists to be created, distributed, completed, managed and statistically analysed with just a few clicks using a modular principle. The innovative application also covers the expressly desired test planning, i.e. the company can not only carry out quality tests without any problems, but also coordinate them in terms of time and personnel.
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