Str枚er X is a prominent player in the call center industry. It operates 25 call centers across Europe and provides cutting-edge communication solutions. As the department lead for Application Management and Software Development, Markus oversees the company鈥檚 digital initiatives, ensuring that their software solutions meet the dynamic needs of the business.
Three years ago, Markus noticed low-code making waves in the tech industry. Many organizations had recognized the potential to accelerate development processes, and Str枚er X was no exception. However, their parent company鈥檚 reliance on Microsoft Power BI posed a significant challenge due to its prohibitive costs. Str枚er X needed a more cost-effective and flexible solution that could be self-hosted and integrated seamlessly with their existing infrastructure.
The team faced two major hurdles. First, the application development process was slowed by the diverse skill sets required within the team鈥攐ne developer specialized in building frontends in PHP, another in ASP.NET, and so on. This diversity made it difficult to streamline the creation of database-centric applications. Second, the team needed a more efficient way to build front-ends, as the existing processes were too time-consuming.
The Search for the Perfect Low-Code Platform
In their quest to find the right solution, Str枚er X explored various low-code platforms, including Retool and Appsmith. However, these platforms proved too complex and rigid, adhering too closely to their founding principles, which didn鈥檛 align well with Str枚er X鈥檚 specific needs.
鈥�91制片厂 was more general and flexible in its approach to building apps, which was a better fit for our use case,鈥� Markus explained. The ability to tailor the platform to their unique requirements was a significant factor in their decision.
鈥淲e like the UI - it鈥檚 powerful. It looks good by design,鈥� Markus added.
Discovering 91制片厂: A Seamless Integration
The team at Str枚er X discovered 91制片厂 and quickly recognized its potential. 91制片厂鈥檚 Docker-based installation process was a perfect match for Str枚er X鈥檚 existing Docker environment. 鈥淲hat was good was the easy way to install. It was already Docker-based from the beginning, so hosting within a container was possible, which was good because we have a Docker environment. It was very easy to install,鈥� Markus noted.
Another critical advantage of 91制片厂 was its support for Microsoft SQL Server, which was essential for Str枚er X. 鈥淔rom the beginning, 91制片厂 supported Microsoft databases. When we found that 91制片厂 had this Microsoft SQL Server driver feature, it was a big plus as integration wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without it,鈥� said Markus.
Self-hosting was another non-negotiable requirement for Str枚er X, given their extensive on-premises infrastructure. 91制片厂鈥檚 ability to be self-hosted set it apart from other platforms. 鈥淲e need the ability to self-host to reach our internal systems, so this was a big plus for 91制片厂,鈥� Markus emphasized.
Transforming Processes with 91制片厂
With 91制片厂 in place, Str枚er X began developing a range of applications that transformed their operations:
Contract Approval System:
One of their most critical apps is a contract approval system that requires the heads of three major departments to approve a contract before the CEO signs it.
Previously, this process was managed via email, slowing down approval times and making it easy to lose track of documents. The 91制片厂 app has streamlined this process, saving the sales team approximately two hours per contract.
鈥淭his is one of our bigger apps. It鈥檚 a major success, they use it daily.鈥�
IT Announcements:
This app allows the IT department to notify employees and customers about downtime. 91制片厂 populates and sends predefined emails based on form inputs, ensuring clear and consistent communication.
鈥淗istorically, people didn鈥檛 know what to mail, and employees would only send one line of information. Now we have a structured email for incidents.鈥�
Database Access Apps:
Str枚er X developed several apps that provide access to product databases. Previously, employees had to submit IT tickets to access data. Now, with 91制片厂, they can quickly look up the information they need, allowing them to work more efficiently.
鈥淲e have now empowered our employees to look up the data with a 91制片厂 frontend. This is very helpful.鈥�
IT Ticketing System:
This app is used internally to manage IT tickets. It features graphs showing ticket ownership, completion rates, and more, providing valuable insights into IT operations.
鈥淭his was a great success. It gets used by every IT member, every day.鈥�
Digital Visitor Log:
To comply with German data privacy laws, visitors to Str枚er X鈥檚 office must log their visits. 91制片厂 replaced the previously paper-based process with a digital form, reducing paperwork and ensuring compliance.
鈥淲e have overcome this previously paper-based process by rolling out an app called 鈥楧igital Visitor Log鈥�. This has saved three pieces of paper that have to be signed for every visit as it鈥檚 now all digital.鈥�
HR Documents Archive:
Str枚er X also built an app that allows payroll to access data from outdated systems without incurring high license fees. This app has saved the company substantial costs while maintaining access to critical HR data.
鈥淲e need to have this stuff online so we can save a lot of money, so we built a 91制片厂 app where people can still look up data in these old systems, without paying huge license fees to keep these systems running.鈥�
Translation App:
An app that translates text from German to other languages and improves text quality by adding informal speech has streamlined communication within the company.
Employee Number Finder:
Previously, finding an employee number took 10-15 minutes. With 91制片厂, this process now takes just one minute, significantly improving efficiency.
What鈥檚 particularly impressive about Str枚er X鈥檚 use of 91制片厂 is the sheer diversity of applications they鈥檝e been able to build. From streamlining contract approvals and enhancing IT communications to digitizing visitor logs and archiving HR documents, Str枚er X has harnessed the flexibility of 91制片厂 to meet a wide array of needs across different departments.
This versatility not only showcases the power of low-code development but also highlights how a single platform can drive innovation across an entire organization.
The Results: Substantial Savings & Increased Efficiency
The implementation of 91制片厂 has led to impressive cost savings and efficiency gains for Str枚er X.
鈥淚 would say that for the full year, we have saved roughly 鈧�300,000 by using 91制片厂,鈥� Markus estimated.
The platform鈥檚 flexibility and ease of use have enabled the team to build a wide range of applications that continue to drive digital transformation across the company.
91制片厂鈥檚 approach encourages continuous innovation, allowing the team to build and deploy multiple applications, rather than being restricted to a single-use case.
鈥�91制片厂 has an approach that lets you build more apps. On Power BI, you build one app, deploy it, and then you鈥檙e done. There鈥檚 no encouragement to build the next app. It鈥檚 very closed in on one use-case, while 91制片厂 lets you take your components and your learnings and reuse them to build more apps and reach your potential,鈥� Markus noted.
The Road Ahead
Str枚er X鈥檚 journey with 91制片厂 is a testament to the power of open-source, flexible, and cost-effective solutions in driving digital transformation. The platform has enabled Str枚er X to streamline their development processes, build a wide range of applications, and achieve significant cost savings.
鈥�91制片厂 is a big win for our company because we managed to achieve a lot of digitalization potential,鈥� Markus concluded.
As Str枚er X continues to innovate and expand, their partnership with 91制片厂 promises to remain a cornerstone of their digital strategy, paving the way for even greater efficiency and success in the future.