A&C Systems' Evolution
'Anything you can control with a smartphone, we supply. From drones to alarm systems,' says Luc Lisen, who has been with the company for two decades as IT Manager. 'From our warehouse in Hoegaarden, we deliver these products to telecom operators and large retail chains like Vandenborre or Aldi. Our biggest customer is Telenet. We ship SIM cards to their customers or the hardware that goes with a particular subscription.'
Although A&C Systems began as a distributor in the early 1990s, today the company offers much more than a logistics service. 'At the request of our customers, we started building e-commerce solutions a few years ago. We build websites for them and guarantee the smooth processing of orders. Via Web services, our ICT is interwoven with theirs.'
Business Continuity at A&C Systems
A&C Systems' IT department, 16 strong, is physically located next to the warehouse. "One half of the team are .NET developers, because internally we work with Microsoft, both in the office and in the warehouse. The other half build apps and e-commerce sites on behalf of our clients. They work with LAMP Stack and Magento because Microsoft was initially less suitable for e-commerce. So we are at home in two worlds.
The IT department is not a cost but brings in money, says Luc Lisen. 'We used to give our customers a Web site as a bonus, to bind them to us. But with the growing importance of e-commerce, it has become a business in itself. We have evolved from distributor to IT company. Our production processes are tight and keeping everything running smoothly is crucial. Processing orders, locating products in the warehouse, shipping packages: there are quite a few links that need to flow seamlessly. An IT failure would cripple our entire business.'
The company has crystal clear agreements with its customers about the quality of IT services. 'If our IT fails, it is immediately visible to the outside world. It is logical that our customers demand that their e-commerce websites are always accessible. Around the clock and every day of the year, we have to guarantee quality, for hundreds of computers and servers. To make that happen, we must be able to count on a team of specialists. That's how Rank1 comes into the story.
Partnership with Rank1
A&C Systems preferred not to work with a mastodon. 'We want to work with a player who is as driven as we are. A company that speaks the language of the SME. With a no-nonsense attitude and fair rates that are SME-oriented. That's Rank1: a small, agile structure without unwieldy overhead but with the crème de la crème of system engineers.'
Innovative IT Projects with Rank1 at A&C Systems
Thanks to them, the company can sleep on two ears, says Luc Lisen. 'Rank1 keeps a close eye on our processes. Because even in terms of security, we cannot allow any kink in the cable. Our warehouse contains products that are sought after by criminals. We cannot afford that our security cameras fail, for example. Rank1 guarantees that.
One Year Collaboration with Rank1 at A&C Systems
With Rank1's help, A&C already realized several IT projects over the past year. 'We migrated a server and improved our wifi network,' explains Luc Lisen. 'That was important because in the warehouse we work with voice commands. We migrated a subsidiary to Office 365 and installed a new storage environment. Cybersecurity was significantly improved, including introducing multi-factor authentication to prevent phishing. I am also very satisfied with solutions Rank1 is working with such as the PRTG app that monitors the network. I can always see on my smartphone how the servers are doing. That gives me peace of mind.
"The motto in IT used to be: what you do yourself, you do better. Forget that today. You can't do everything, and then it's nice to have a partner you can rely on. Our own IT team is ironclad, but we don't pretend to know everything. Knowing that you have a backup line, someone you can call with a problem you can't solve yourself: that's worth a lot. It also gives assurance that we can count on a competent replacement if someone from our team is absent.'
'We have been working with Rank1 for a year now. We have made tremendous progress in all areas. We have just strengthened our cooperation. That is the best proof that we are satisfied.'
Summary
Leuven-based A&C Systems was founded in 1991. The company is experiencing solid growth and is expanding rapidly every year. With 250 employees, including 50 in China, A&C Systems is now the market leader in the Benelux. Formerly supplying products, the company now also offers services such as building web shops, B2C deliveries, marketing services, product recycling and warehousing.