Zorggroep Sirjon, a provider of disability and elderly care, has undergone a significant IT transformation with the support of Interstellar. This included outsourcing IT services and modernizing their infrastructure to deliver better care.
Zorggroep Sirjon provides compassionate care to the elderly and people with disabilities in the Netherlands, based on reformed values. Our organization includes the care institutions Siloah, Elim, and Maranatha, spread across more than 20 locations.
"There is intensive collaboration between both parties. It works well for us. We are truly relieved of IT concerns and have to handle as little as possible ourselves."
Evert van LuttikhuizenManager Dienstencentrum, Sirjon
The organization faced the challenge of improving its care offering and optimizing internal collaboration, particularly in support services, with limited financial resources. This required a new IT vision: which activities should Sirjon handle internally, and for which should we develop an outsourcing strategy? The 1.000 employees across the Netherlands needed to be able to do their work as effectively as possible.
Evert van Luttikhuizen, Manager of the SCS (Service Center Sirjon): “When we were working to clarify our IT vision, Interstellar made the following offer: give us a year, and we will map out the entire IT environment: the IT infrastructure, the level of knowledge, and the hardware and software. We will also propose how to bring your IT environment to the desired level for a fixed amount. Quite a risk for Interstellar, because you never know what you’ll encounter. That gave us confidence in their commitment.”
Interstellar then implemented an extensive IT renewal project, including the establishment of a fully managed workplace environment and a strategic focus on data security and GDPR compliance. This included the deployment of advanced back-up and security systems.
“At the beginning of the project, Sirjon faced several challenges. These included the lagging IT knowledge of employees, the outdated IT environment, the increased focus on data security, and the shift from trying to manage IT ourselves to collaborating with an external IT partner,” says Van Luttikhuizen.
“Interstellar also had challenges. Initially, there were some capacity issues on the support desk. Interstellar responded by increasing their capacity. That’s what collaboration is about: thinking along and relieving concerns. Another positive note: when we decided to outsource our IT, it naturally affected our IT staff. Interstellar decided to hire our IT employee.”
The new IT infrastructure has led to improved operational efficiency and better data security. The workspaces for all care workers are now complete and secure, both in the office and at home, benefiting the quality of care.
Van Luttikhuizen: “For our Office 365 implementation, we work with both Interstellar and a cloud specialist. Here too, Interstellar is heavily involved. There is intensive collaboration between both parties. It works well for us. We are truly relieved of IT concerns and have to handle as little as possible ourselves. This strategic decision to outsource IT has been validated.”
Thanks to the partnership with Interstellar, Zorggroep Sirjon has been able to revise and implement its IT strategy, resulting in a reliable IT environment that ensures the continuity of care. The organization is now better prepared for future technological developments and challenges.
“Sirjon greatly appreciated that Interstellar committed to our challenge as a partner. They honestly and transparently indicate what is not and especially what is possible. This builds trust, providing a solid foundation for a long-term collaboration. It’s great that they speak the ‘language’ of care and understand what is needed. Both complex issues and a care worker who has forgotten a password are discussed and addressed with pleasure. This is very much appreciated. We are not just a number; we can see that Interstellar contributes to achieving our goals,” concludes Van Luttikhuizen.
