Remeha

The entire IT infrastructure of Remeha, an international manufacturer and supplier of heating and hot water systems, is built on a chain collaboration between TReNT Glasvezel, NDIX, and Fundaments. What are the benefits of having a strong chain when it comes to connectivity? And what does the collaboration within such a chain look like? We start at the beginning of the chain: with the customer's needs.

Paul Pels, IT Team Lead at Remeha: “When I started at Remeha three years ago, our IT infrastructure was due for an upgrade. Among other things, we had ten different connections to the outside world, all provided by different suppliers with varying service-level agreements. This made management very complex, and on top of that, the infrastructure was anything but cost-efficient. Based on business requirements, we looked at what our IT infrastructure needed to be for the future and created a new design. Now, we source the majority of our IT externally from both Private and Public Cloud environments. Good connectivity is vital in this regard. If the connectivity isn't up to par, our production can't run, we can't process the 2,000 calls a day from our customers, sales can't take place, and logistics grind to a halt; in short, connectivity is key for our organization. The question was: how do we lay a robust, fast, and reliable foundation for this?”

“We have been using the TReNT Glasvezel network since 2018, and in 2019 we expanded this into a redundant corporate network. If one of our connections is damaged by excavation work or another incident, the second connection automatically takes over the service. That answers our need for redundancy and guarantees that we are always reachable and connected. Furthermore, a personal approach is an important factor for us when choosing a partner. Unlike with a mainstream provider, Remeha is not just a number at TReNT. Based on our satisfaction with TReNT, we worked with them to further develop the solution for our connectivity needs in 2019. TReNT brought in their strategic partner NDIX for a network connection, and the need also arose to purchase internet services via that network. Market research showed that Fundaments was the best choice for this. The chain collaboration proved to be a great success. The solution provided by TReNT, NDIX, and Fundaments has laid a strong foundation upon which we run our entire new IT infrastructure and upon which we can continue to build for the future.”

WHAT DOES THE SOLUTION LOOK LIKE?

STEP 1: FIBER OPTIC
Ewout Naafs, Business Developer at TReNT Glasvezel: “TReNT Glasvezel provides Remeha with two physically separate fiber optic connections. This network infrastructure is used exclusively for Remeha and is an integral part of the foundation for their entire ICT environment. Reliability is crucial for Remeha, and we provide this with our network, which is built in rings. The nodes are located in data centers. A major advantage of this is that downtime is kept to an absolute minimum and any malfunctions can be easily traced. We are completely transparent with customers about the network design and show them exactly how the routing works. Remeha knows exactly where their connections run. In addition, the customer is central to our high-quality service model. For example, just like all our other customers, Remeha has fixed contact persons in both sales and implementation. This makes our communication personal and accessible. Of course, a customer isn't helped by just a fiber optic cable; it's essentially a dead wire. To allow data, voice, and video to run over it, the fiber optic cable must be lit. Remeha chose to use the Ethernet platform of our strategic partner NDIX for this.”

STEP 2: NETWORK
Dennis Seppenwoold, Project Manager at NDIX: “For Remeha, NDIX is the second step in the chain and forms the central link between the physical fiber and the services. NDIX is a network in both the Netherlands and Germany that ensures connectivity between the customer and various services such as internet, telephony, and cloud solutions. We ensure that Remeha's services are delivered securely to the desired location. We also provide a secure connection to external ICT environments and data centers. Our Network Operations Center provides 24/7 management and monitoring of Remeha's network. All different layers are separated on our network. The services are provided by another specialist—in Remeha's case, by Fundaments. They take care of the internet, cloud solutions, and telephony services. It is the final step in the chain where everyone focuses on what they do best.”

STEP 3: INTERNET AND SERVICES
Iwe Welker, Partner Manager at Fundaments: “Remeha purchases a redundant internet connection from us, where the internet reaches Remeha's location via TReNT's fiber optic connections on both sides. Redundancy was very important to Remeha, and we are one of the few internet providers on the NDIX network that offers redundancy. Redundancy ensures that the customer is always 'on' and accessible, which is of great importance for business-critical cloud solutions. Fundaments is an expert in highly available internet connections, but first and foremost, we are a provider of cloud solutions. Through the collaboration with TReNT and NDIX, the customer receives the highest quality cloud solution. A party like Remeha expects excellent service, and that is what we provide. Unlike mainstream internet providers, personal contact is our priority. In addition, we are always completely transparent about the cost structure so that Remeha knows exactly where they stand. The collaboration with the other parties in the chain feels natural. We have been working together as suppliers for years and are well-attuned to one another. In this entire chain, we are seamlessly connected.”

THE FINAL VERDICT

Paul Pels, IT Team Lead at Remeha: “I would definitely recommend that companies solve their connectivity issues through this type of chain collaboration. It forms a strong foundation for all kinds of IT services. The lines of communication are short, the number of disruptions is minimal, speed and reliability are guaranteed, and as an end customer, you are completely unburdened. Because of the expertise at every layer, you get the most out of the solution provided. We are extremely satisfied. For us, this chain collaboration fully meets the demands of today's business.”

Would you like to experience how such a chain collaboration works for your organization? Please feel free to contact us.

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