Published on 13-Feb-2012
"Forbo Bonding Systems offers a perfect example of what social software can do. I’ve been in IT for nearly 30 years and IBM Connections is the best collaboration tool I’ve ever seen. It provides an enormous amount of flexibility." - — Robert Sigmond, IT manager, Forbo Bonding Systems
Customer:
Forbo Bonding Systems
Industry:
Construction / Architecture / Engineering
Deployment country:
Netherlands
Solution:
Social Business Framework
Overview
Established in 1972, Forbo Bonding Systems is a leading manufacturerof construction products that specializes in adhesives.
Business need:
Forbo Bonding Systems wanted to facilitate collaboration on projectsand make it easier to share information and documents.
Solution:
IBM Connections social software supports collaboration and provides greater visibility into projects.
Benefits:
The software enables the group involved in the pilot to decrease the frequency of status meetings by 75 percent, while improving efficiency and transparency.
Case Study
Established in 1972, Forbo Bonding Systems is a leading manufacturer of construction products that specializes in adhesives. Located in the Netherlands, the company is part of the Forbo Group, an international company headquartered in Switzerland with operations in 35 countries.
Challenge
Forbo Bonding Systems wanted to improve efficiency and make it easier for its employees to share information. In the past, employees stored documents in a variety of separate databases and Microsoft Windows file structures, which made it difficult to search for—let alone find—information when it was needed. Employees also relied on email to share documents, which created version control problems and clogged inboxes with attachments. The company wanted to provide its employees with a technology platform that would facilitate collaboration on projects and make it easier to share information and documents.
Solution
Forbo Bonding Systems launched a pilot project with IBM Connections software for 50 people in one of its business units. Using the software, employees now have a platform for collaboration that provides greater visibility into projects. The Activities component of IBM Connections software enables staff to assign tasks to themselves or to each other, set due dates and share documents. The IBM Connections software is integrated with the company’s existing IBM Lotus® Notes® software, and the IBM Connections components are easily accessible through the Lotus Notes sidebar.
Benefits
• Enables the group involved in the pilot to decrease the frequency of staff meetings by 75 percent
• Dramatically improves efficiency and transparency
• Supports faster and more accurate decision-making process because skills and information are now easier to find
For more information
To learn more about how IBM Connections software, contact your IBM sales representative or IBM Business Partner, or visit: ibm.com/software/lotus/products/connections
Products and services used
IBM products and services that were used in this case study.
Software:
IBM Connections, Lotus Notes
Legal Information
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2012 IBM Corporation Software Group Route 100 Somers, NY 10589 U.S.A. Produced in the United States of America January 2012 All Rights Reserved IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, Lotus and Lotus Notes are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries or both. If these and other IBM trademarked terms are marked on their first occurrence in this information with a trademark symbol (® or TM), these symbols indicate U.S. registered or common law trademarks owned by IBM at the time this information was published. Such trademarks may also be registered or common law trademarks in other countries. Other product, company or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the web at “Copyright and trademark information” at ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml This document is current as of the initial date of publication and may be changed by IBM at any time. Not all offerings are available in every country in which IBM operates. Microsoft, Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND ANY WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF NON-INFRINGEMENT. IBM products are warranted according to the terms and conditions of the agreements under which they are provided. Available in all countries in which IBM operates.