Open, honest and clear communication
Business Art Service (BAS) is the largest art supplier in the Benelux countries. Its main activity is hiring out works of art. In addition, BAS also sells art and promotional gifts, organises art events and manages art collections for other companies. The company has two branches: one in Raamsdonkveer (the Netherlands) and one in Temse (Belgium). BAS has more than 55,000 works in its collection. As a rule, around 40,000 of these are hired out at any given time. With its major clients, BAS is increasingly dealing with European tenders. These clients nearly always ask for the option of viewing and reserving art online. In order to offer this service, BAS wanted to create an interface between its website and database. However, the end result had to sit well with the company's house style and website.
“It's a solution we understand.”
Berit van Dobbenburgh, director of the Dutch branch of BAS, explains why they asked IQuality to develop the interface between the website and the database: “Our website was designed using Sitecore's CMS architecture.” Unfortunately, the supplier of this website was unable to link it with our Navision database as we would have liked. That's how BAS ended up with IQuality. "They really were our knights in shining armour. Firstly because IQuality really does have the technical knowledge to allow the website and the database to 'talk' to one another, but also because they can explain the technology used in simple terms. And time after time, they really made the effort to do so. This allowed us to make well-considered decisions. Finally, we now have a solution we understand, without needing an in-depth grasp of the technology."
"We don't have to worry about it any more."
In July 2007, IQuality delivered an application which handles the communication between the website and the database. On the internet, clients can now see which works of art are available at any given time. In addition, it is possible to view and reserve all the works online. BAS was so pleased with IQuality's services that they have also entrusted the company with their hosting and website management. Van Dobbenburgh: "With IQuality, our website is in safe hands. We have clear agreements about the costs and response times. We have our own designer who takes care of the house style, and IQuality sorts out the technical side of things. We don't have to worry about it anymore."
"IQuality really took the initiative"
IQuality goes way beyond just supplying functioning software. The employees also feel responsible for achieving client objectives. Van Dobbenburgh is delighted with this sense of dedication: "We were given a clear project plan. The project leader was really on the ball during the implementation. Whenever the process threatened to grind to a halt somewhere in the triangle between us, IQuality and the database supplier, IQuality took the initiative and solved the problem." An ideal working method for organisations with very little technical knowledge of their own. According to Van Dobbenburgh: "Our interest lies in art and commerce, not automation. Our software just has to work, and that's the end of it. That's why we're so pleased that IQuality can really be trusted, and that they communicate openly, honestly and clearly. I've never encountered that before in 'automation land', and I've gone through a lot of suppliers..."