After the European branch of PHC Europe separated from the Japanese parent company, a new software environment had to be set up. “Time was running out for us.” Interstellar was brought in to help.
PHC Europe B.V.,is a leading supplier of high-quality medical and laboratory equipment, including ultra-low temperature freezers, CO2 incubators, laboratory autoclaves, and various laboratory supplies. With a strong focus on innovation and reliability, PHC Europe provides equipment that meets the highest industry standards, supporting scientific research and medical applications.
"My expectations were exceeded."
Arjan van ToorManager Business Operations, PHC Europe
PHC Europe (formerly Panasonic Biomedical) in Etten-Leur found itself in a unique situation. After the European biomedical branch split off from the Japanese parent company, the business not only stood on its own, but also needed a solution for outdated software. PHC traditionally operated globally in an IBM environment. The desire was to move away from this and transition to Microsoft Office 365.
Arjan van Toor, Manager of Business Operations at PHC Europe, explains that he faced a complex problem: “Continuity is, of course, our top priority. But at the same time, a completely new IT environment had to be set up. I was most concerned about this squeeze and the time pressure it threatened to create. Time was running out for us.”
To his great surprise, Interstellar managed to implement Microsoft Office 365 within a few months at all European locations of PHC Europe. In addition to the Office 365 implementation, Interstellar also took on the system management. Van Toor says, “My expectations were exceeded.”,/p>
Van Toor says that even when there was a gap in his own IT department, he could rely on Interstellar. “They immediately stepped in to address the infrastructure. For a few months, the guys from Interstellar were here for a few hours each day. In the end, I only had one day without IT help. That says a lot about their flexibility.”
Van Toor is very pleased with the new Microsoft environment. “Office 365 is a huge improvement over our previous software. We also use SharePoint, which we use as an intranet to share business information from various offices across Europe. Each department has its own page. We encourage colleagues to check SharePoint first before picking up the phone.”
The Manager of Business Operations says they have become an example for the other PHC Europe locations. He is also satisfied with the collaboration: “The clear communication with Interstellar positively stood out to me. I didn’t need to ask for feedback; it came naturally. That’s how it should be.”
