Securing competitive advantages

Source: Vodafone Institute

The Challenge

Efficient digitalisation

The medical technology company BEMER Group was faced with the challenge of modernising its IT infrastructure and optimising digital processes despite a general shortage of skilled workers. The existing on-premise servers were no longer sufficient to meet the increasing requirements. 

In order to remain competitive, a solution had to be found that offered both flexibility and scalability. BEMER also needed an infrastructure that would make it possible to harmonise global business processes while ensuring data security. Switching to a comprehensive cloud strategy was therefore essential to ensure the company's efficiency and innovation and to master future digital challenges. The aim was to harmonise processes and make them future-proof. 

The Company

Patented medical technology with a global presence

The BEMER Group, founded in 1998, specialises in the development of high-tech solutions for physical vascular therapy that improve microcirculation and thus enhance the well-being and performance of their users. With around 100 employees and over 30,000 sales partners in more than 30 countries, BEMER is an internationally recognised company in the field of medical technology that successfully markets its products through direct sales. BEMER works closely with leading medical institutes to continuously develop new applications and optimise existing therapies, including innovative solutions for the veterinary sector.

The Solution

Versatile cloud services from Vodafone

To master the digital challenges, Bemer relies on a multi-cloud solution from Vodafone Business, the most important components of which are an AWS (Amazon Web Services) infrastructure and the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. This flexible and innovative architecture enables BEMER to efficiently manage central systems such as ERP, customer service tools and other digital services.

The Bemer AWS infrastructure consists of eight virtual networks that separate the individual application clusters from one another and 37 subnets with a total of 314 security groups that regulate communication with one another. This infrastructure provides developers with test machines, for example, which are isolated from the production network for security reasons.

Not having your own server farm reduces IT support costs and lowers building insurance costs. In addition, hosting in certified data centres offers a high level of security and meets all compliance requirements.

For the design and customisation of applications, BEMER's IT team held code camps to work out all the necessary steps and framework conditions. The collaboration with Vodafone enables rapid problem solving and agile implementation of the digitalisation projects.

The implementation of the cloud solutions helps to relieve the IT department, as administration, updates and backups are handled by Vodafone. This gives BEMER the opportunity to focus on the further development of its products and develop innovative solutions for its customers.

The Advantages

Flexible and scalable

The implementation of the multi-cloud infrastructure has brought the BEMER Group numerous benefits. The flexibility and scalability of the cloud solutions enable efficient management of central systems such as ERP and customer support. IT costs have been significantly reduced by eliminating the need for in-house servers, while data security has been increased through hosting in certified data centres. BEMER also benefits from faster problem solving and agile implementation of new projects thanks to the partnership-based cooperation with Vodafone. These optimisations contribute to the company's innovative capacity and competitiveness.

BEMER's solutions promote the mental and physical well-being of their users and help athletes to regenerate and improve their fitness. Imed Jami is responsible for optimising the user experience of potential customers and implementing the company's digitalisation strategy. Here he talks about the opportunities and challenges of new technologies and reveals his insider tips.

Mr Jami, why did you decide to take the step towards digitalisation with your company?

Imed Jami: We were in a good starting position as we had a successful ongoing business, so there was no immediate pressure to act. However, it was clear to us that we needed to make changes for the future, which is why we approached the expansion of digitalisation as a proactive process. This was clearly an investment in the future.

In your opinion, what are the greatest opportunities arising from digitalisation?

Imed Jami: The advantages are on many levels. Not only are the processes clearer and enable transparent real-time reporting for decision-makers, but we are also able to offer our customers shorter and more attractive ways to access our products and services. Examples of this include our online shop and self-service portals.

What are the biggest risks if a company sleeps through digitalisation?

Imed Jami: A company can work for some time on the basis of old, outdated processes. However, you should be aware that you are then living off the substance to a certain extent. Without customised digital tools, you will increasingly miss out on business opportunities. Depending on the competitive situation, more agile competitors can quickly push your own company out of the market.

What advice would you give to companies that have not dealt with the topic much so far?

Imed Jami: Our process model was based on a holistic approach to digitalisation. This means that we took an in-depth and, above all, complete look at all technological aspects of the company before developing a holistic concept. This enabled us to ensure that each implementation step brought direct and measurable benefits. Rapid methods such as conceptualisation workshops or code camps were very helpful tools for this.

Based on the experience you have already had: What three tips would you give a company in the same situation?

Imed Jami: Firstly: Have a strategy and a plan that takes your strengths – but also your weaknesses – into account. Secondly, have staying power and plan with interim results. Successes along the way allow you to evaluate the next project steps again and again and, if necessary, adapt them to new requirements without distorting the strategy. Thirdly, be aware of your entrepreneurial core competences. Tasks or decisions that you cannot implement better yourself are better left to partners – even if it is just support with ‘make it or buy it?’ decisions.

Companies are increasingly suffering from the ongoing shortage of skilled labour - especially in the IT sector. Those who fail to digitalise now risk being left behind. Many companies are therefore modernising their IT systems, but the labour market is unable to meet the increased demand for IT specialists.

According to a Bitkom study, there will be a shortage of around 153,000 IT specialists in Germany in 2024 - by 2040, there will already be around 663,000. This gap threatens progress in digitalisation and poses major challenges for companies. Projects are being delayed or cancelled altogether due to a lack of the necessary technical resources. In addition, the existing IT workforce is often overworked, which can lead to a drop in motivation and increased staff turnover. In the long term, companies lose competitiveness and miss out on opportunities for innovation.

Switching to cloud solutions offers a promising way to overcome these challenges. In this article, we show how cloud technology can help companies mitigate the skills shortage and achieve their digital goals.

Digitalisation despite a shortage of skilled workers: the role of cloud technology in practice

By moving the IT infrastructure to the cloud, many administrative and technical tasks, such as maintenance, security updates and system upgrades, can be outsourced to cloud providers. These providers assume responsibility for the smooth functioning and security of the IT systems, which significantly relieves the burden on internal IT departments.

A company that previously operated its own servers on site would have to carry out regular maintenance work and install security updates. These tasks are time-consuming and require specialised knowledge. A cloud provider takes over these tasks, giving internal IT staff more time for strategic projects and innovative tasks.

Another example is the use of cloud-based software solutions. Instead of installing and maintaining software locally on each individual computer, employees can access the required applications via the cloud. This simplifies the administration and updating of the software and reduces the need for technical support.

Cloud technology also offers a high level of scalability and flexibility. Companies can adapt their IT resources as required without having to invest in expensive hardware. This flexibility enables companies to react quickly to changing market conditions and take advantage of new business opportunities.

6 advantages of the cloud in times of an IT labour shortage

Overall, cloud technology enables companies to achieve their digitalisation goals despite the shortage of skilled workers and at the same time become more efficient and competitive. We would be happy to advise your company on our cloud solutions.