Neways: stable and future-proof network guarantees business continuity

Son-based Neways Electronics is an international supplier of electronic circuits and systems. It is crucial for business continuity that the network is stable and reliable. In addition, employees must have a safe, modern digital workplace with all the applications they need. Valid helps with this and is now entering a new phase with Neways: the service provider is taking over management and support of ICT infrastructure, also for foreign branches.

Improving cyber resilience applies to the headquarters and the Belgian production site. Standardization, merging and modernization is underway for the global IT facilities and applications. Indeed, Scafom-rux operates on several continents with its self-developed and manufactured high-quality scaffolding equipment.

Challenge: managing all ICT

Corporate Head of ICT Joop Kempe explains that it takes an awful lot of knowledge and expertise to manage all the ICT that Neways Electronics has in-house. "If you want to do that properly yourself, you need a lot of different experts. But they wouldn't all have a day's work. That's why we outsource ICT tasks. That eases the pressure in our department." Neways has been working with Valid since 2016 for ICT infrastructure, digital workstations and service desk. But to be allowed to do management as well, Valid still had to win their trust.

According to Marco Croese, operations manager ICT at Neways Electronics, Valid succeeded, "because they are clear beforehand about what you can expect. And because their people keep appointments." Kempe: "For us, that's important. The trust we place in them is the reason we are going to purchase services from Valid for foreign branches as well."

Solution: optimal availability

When it comes to the ICT infrastructure, Valid ensures, among other things, that the availability of systems is high and that security is always up to date. By monitoring the network, failures are prevented as much as possible. If they do occur, or if employees have ICT-related questions, they can fall back on Valid's service desk. The experts there are specially assigned to Neways. What Valid also takes off their hands: tasks related to the design, rollout and maintenance of digital workstations.

Collaborative advantage: 24 x 7 support

Kempe finds Valid's pragmatic attitude one of the most pleasant aspects of the cooperation. "Valid solves problems first and only then talks about the consequences. We always come out of this, because we deal with each other in a mature way."

Because Neways also runs production outside office hours, the service desk is on standby 24×7 for emergencies. Kempe cites other advantages of using the service desk. "If those we initially contact are unable to figure something out, it's no problem. Three hundred more people work at Valid, so it is always possible for the desk to fall back on the expertise available."

"Because of the no-nonsense mentality at Valid, you also never have long discussions. If there is something, we solve it quickly together."

Joop Kempe Corporate Head of ICT at Neways

The result: fewer tickets

According to Kempe, Valid's network management efforts are producing measurable results. ''The number of tickets has decreased by a quarter in three years. That decrease says something about the quality and stability of our ICT environment. Our people are no longer busy solving technical problems, but can focus on their real work."

Employees now have devices that hold all the apps they need. Kempe: ''They can access everything. Valid keeps workstations up-to-date for us, with the right versions of applications and good security. They also make sure that devices are replaced on time. That saves our department a lot of work. We just have to do a lot less administrative work."

And because strange eyes compel, Kempe says it also succeeds better in maintaining a uniform working method. "Valid does not deviate from agreements we have made about procedures. Abroad, we will soon also start working the same way everywhere. That will benefit efficiency."

Future: being successful outside the Netherlands as well

Neways Electronics International thus saves a lot of time and costs thanks to Valid, and needs to hire less ICT knowledge and expertise in-house. Kempe: "Because of the no-nonsense mentality at Valid, you never have long discussions. If there is something, we solve it quickly together." Croese: "I can recommend working with Valid to everyone. The level of knowledge is high and they never let you down. Valid already helps us perfectly in the Netherlands to achieve our goals, I am convinced that it will also succeed abroad."

Neways

• Has existed since 1969
• More than 2,500 employees
• Top-10 player in Europe
• Branches in the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, China and the United States