MAYER Engineers rely on Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P
The software provider also matters
Mayer Engineers from Böblingen specialize in civil and road construction. Their expertise makes them a sought-after partner for cities and municipalities. For the BMSP software provider Sta*Ware from Starnberg, the new client is also a gain. As a beta tester, the engineering firm provides new impulses for software development. Managing Director Michael Mayer explains the advantages of this and why the choice of software also depends on the provider.
Streets, sewers, and water pipelines are vital lifelines without which cities and municipalities could not exist. As an engineering firm for municipal civil and road construction, Mayer Engineers focus on the long-term maintenance of this infrastructure. “We see it as an important task to preserve these valuable assets and prepare them for future requirements together with the municipalities,” explains Managing Director Michael Mayer, describing the company’s self-image, which has practically become the “DNA” of the company founded in 1926 by Gottlob Mayer. With the takeover by his grandchildren in the third generation, Mark and Michael Mayer, the engineering firm focuses on planning and maintaining municipal infrastructure as well as technical-economic consulting.
Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P replaces multiple programs
The company uses specialized programs for design, tendering, calculation, or simulation as well as for office and project management. At 10 PC workstations, the office and management software for planning firms (BMSP) Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P is used, which was recently introduced and replaced several programs in the office. In addition to a document management system and an email and appointment management program, an existing BMSP solution was also replaced. “Unfortunately, the previous software could not map our processes in the necessary level of detail. Therefore, we reluctantly decided to switch,” comments Mayer on the software change. This began a longer selection process for the company. Mayer remembers this challenging phase well, which ran parallel to ongoing business: “Our employee responsible for office organization first documented our process workflows. Based on this, a list of requirements for the new BMSP software was compiled. We then used this specification as the basis for our market research.” Using an online product comparison by the IWW Institute, the Mayer Engineers team made an initial pre-selection. Two programs ultimately made the shortlist, recalls Mayer: “We chose Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P for several reasons: Above all, now everything is under one roof – office and project management, document, email, and appointment management. In addition, we can continuously create and manage our fee proposals and invoices. We were immediately impressed by the consistent process structure and the ability to create individually customizable processes and tasks, including time tracking.” Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P follows a proven concept: The project structure can be generated directly from the order. Tasks of the individual service phases can also be called automatically according to HOAI or a company-specific process scheme. This process-oriented workflow has the advantage that everything is documented and booked step by step, ensuring that no service is forgotten in billing.
Good support from the software provider
BMSP software is not off-the-shelf. Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P also had to be adapted to the individual office and project workflows of Mayer Engineers – for example, to specific tasks, process workflows, templates for fee proposals, evaluations, or printouts. Mayer appreciated the provider support: “Sta*Ware actively supported us during software adaptation. This allowed us to work quickly, efficiently, and productively with the software. We are also very satisfied with the company’s service. A personal contact is always available during business hours, and problems can be solved quickly via remote access. We’ve had different experiences with other providers. Quick response times are very important when things are urgent.” A crucial aspect of the software switch was also the migration of existing data, which the engineering firm pragmatically solved: “We opted for a clean break to reduce effort. New projects were processed with the new program, and only selected documents from old projects were exported and imported in Explorer format, which worked relatively smoothly.” For software provider Sta*Ware, the new client is also a stroke of luck. With its specialized practical knowledge, the engineering firm is now not only an experienced tester of beta versions but also an important driver for software development. For example, the Process Engine, which allows workflows and tasks to be created and customized individually, or the Reporting Center for real-time analysis, has been extended in some areas – to the benefit of all users. Mayer sees this as a classic win-win situation: “Since we are always interested in software development tailored to our needs and also happy when other users benefit, the collaboration is a gain for everyone involved.”
As important as CAD, AVA & Co.
Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P has now become as important an office tool as CAD, AVA & Co. Employee acceptance is also very good. Mayer suspects this is partly because employees were involved in the software selection process: “The program is particularly popular due to easy time tracking, centralized management, automatic project assignment of emails, and the ability to access important functions or capture/compare data on-site via the app. A home office workstation can also be quickly set up via VPN.” Mayer especially values the fee module: “For precise proposals, we can directly use HOAI data, quickly determine billable costs, calculate proposals according to HOAI service descriptions, service phases, basic services, special services, incidental costs, or surcharges, and then send them as PDFs via email. The cross-project real-time evaluation with forecasting is also a great help. This gives me an overview at all times of individual processes, project status in the service phases, invoice status, budget, or liquidity.” Another quality Mayer appreciates is flexibility: “Each office can create its individual solution, which continuously evolves and helps companies offer their professional expertise optimally to clients.” Further information: Sta*Ware EDV Beratung GmbH, Moosstraße 16, D-82319, Starnberg, Tel.: 08151 / 18795 20, info@staware.com, www.staware.com
Images and Captions
Office and projects at Mayer Engineers in Böblingen are managed with the BMSP software Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P
The Mayer Engineers team specializes in civil and road construction and maintaining municipal infrastructure
With its specialized practical knowledge, the engineering firm is now also an important driver for software development
Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P has replaced several programs at Mayer Engineers and ensures more consistent processes – e.g., in time tracking
Managing Director Michael Mayer especially appreciates the fee module, which allows precise offers or overviews to be created
The real-time analysis provides an overview of processes, project status, invoice status, budget, or liquidity
Mobile access to office and project data, data capture, or reconciliation via Sta*Ware app or portal is becoming increasingly important
Mark (left) and Michael Mayer now manage Mayer Engineers in the third generation
(All images: Mayer Ingenieure GmbH)
(Created on: 30.08.2024, 7912 characters, free to print, copy requested)
Background Information
Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P: The comprehensive office and project management software for engineers and architects, Sta*Ware Business Navigator E&P, enables more efficient workflows, easier information distribution and communication, smooth process execution, and real-time evaluations. Key features include an integrated HOAI calculator with detailed interim and final billing, continuous offer and order processes, individual project structures with processes and workflows, a unified and automated project repository for all documents, emails, notes, processes, or tasks, real-time reporting, as well as a Windows client, an app, and an online portal for mobile use or integration of external project participants.
Sta*Ware GmbH: Sta*Ware EDV Beratung GmbH, based in Starnberg, has specialized for over 20 years in developing and implementing compact and innovative business solutions for SMEs. The areas of customer management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), project management, document management (DMS), e-collaboration, controlling, and quality management are integrated into a single system. Clients include engineering, architecture, and planning firms, prefabricated house manufacturers, property management companies, tax consultants, government agencies, and consulting firms.
