Remeha

The entire IT infrastructure of Remeha, an international manufacturer and supplier of heating and hot water systems, is built on a chain collaboration between TReNT Glasvezel, NDIX, and Fundaments. What are the benefits of having a strong chain when it comes to connectivity? And what does the collaboration within such a chain look like? We start at the beginning of the chain: with the customer's needs.

Paul Pels, IT Team Lead at Remeha: “When I started at Remeha three years ago, our IT infrastructure was due for an overhaul. Among other things, we had ten different external connections, all provided by different suppliers with varying service-level agreements. As a result, management was extremely complex and, on top of that, the infrastructure was anything but cost-effective. Based on business requirements, we looked at what our IT infrastructure needed to look like for the future and designed a new setup. Today, we source the majority of our IT externally from both Private Cloud and Public Cloud environments. Reliable connectivity is absolutely vital here. If our connectivity fails, production grinds to a halt, we can’t handle the 2,000 calls a day from our customers, sales cannot take place, and logistics stalls; in short, connectivity is key to our business. The question was: how do we build a robust, fast, and dependable foundation for this?”

“We have been using the TReNT Glasvezel network since 2018, and in 2019 we expanded this into a redundant corporate network. If one of our connections is damaged by excavation work or another incident, the second connection automatically takes over the service. That answers our need for redundancy and guarantees that we are always reachable and connected. Furthermore, a personal approach is an important factor for us when choosing a partner. Unlike with a mainstream provider, Remeha is not just a number at TReNT. Based on our satisfaction with TReNT, we worked with them to further develop the solution for our connectivity needs in 2019. TReNT brought in their strategic partner NDIX for a network connection, and the need also arose to purchase internet services via that network. Market research showed that Fundaments was the best choice for this. The chain collaboration proved to be a great success. The solution provided by TReNT, NDIX, and Fundaments has laid a strong foundation upon which we run our entire new IT infrastructure and upon which we can continue to build for the future.”

WHAT DOES THE SOLUTION LOOK LIKE?

STEP 1: FIBRE OPTICS
Ewout Naafs, Business Developer at TReNT Glasvezel: “TReNT Glasvezel provides Remeha with two physically distinct fibre-optic connections. This network infrastructure is dedicated exclusively to Remeha and forms an integral part of the foundation for their entire IT environment. Reliability is crucial for Remeha here, and we deliver this through our ring-topology network. The nodes are situated in data centres. The major advantage of this setup is that downtime is kept to an absolute minimum and any issues can be pinpointed easily. We offer complete transparency to our clients regarding network design, and we also show how routing works. Remeha knows exactly where their connections run. Furthermore, the client is at the heart of our premium service model. Just like all our other clients, Remeha has dedicated points of contact across both sales and operations. This ensures our communication is personal and accessible. Of course, a fibre-optic cable alone doesn’t solve a client’s needs; on its own, it’s just dark fibre. To transmit data, voice, and video, the fibre cable needs to be lit. Remeha opted to use the Ethernet platform of our strategic partner, NDIX, to achieve this.”

STEP 2: NETWORK
Dennis Seppenwoold, Project Manager at NDIX: “NDIX represents the second step in the chain for Remeha, acting as the vital link between the physical fibre and the services. NDIX operates a network across both the Netherlands and Germany, providing connectivity between the client and various services such as internet, telephony, and cloud solutions. We ensure that Remeha’s services are delivered securely to the desired location. We also provide secure connectivity to external IT environments and data centres. Our Network Operations Centre manages and monitors Remeha’s network 24/7. All the different layers are segregated across our network. The services themselves are provided by another specialist—in Remeha’s case, Fundaments. They handle the internet, cloud solutions, and telephony services. It’s the final step in the chain, where everyone focuses on what they do best.”

STEP 3: INTERNET AND SERVICES
Iwe Welker, Partner Manager at Fundaments: “Remeha procures a redundant internet connection from us, with internet delivered to Remeha’s premises over TReNT’s fibre-optic connections from both ends. Redundancy was essential for Remeha, and we are one of the few internet service providers on the NDIX network offering this capability. Redundancy ensures the client is always online and accessible, which is vital for business-critical cloud solutions. Fundaments specializes in high-availability internet connections, but above all, we are a cloud solutions provider. By collaborating with TReNT and NDIX, the client receives an optimal cloud solution. An organization like Remeha expects outstanding service, and that is exactly what we deliver. Unlike mainstream internet providers, we prioritize personal contact. In addition, we are completely transparent about our cost structure so Remeha always knows where they stand. Working with the other partners in the chain feels entirely natural. We have collaborated as suppliers for years and are thoroughly aligned. Throughout this entire chain, we are seamlessly connected.”

THE FINAL VERDICT

Paul Pels, IT Team Lead at Remeha: “I would definitely recommend that companies solve their connectivity issues through this type of chain collaboration. It forms a strong foundation for all kinds of IT services. The lines of communication are short, the number of disruptions is minimal, speed and reliability are guaranteed, and as an end customer, you are completely unburdened. Because of the expertise at every layer, you get the most out of the solution provided. We are extremely satisfied. For us, this chain collaboration fully meets the demands of today's business.”

Want to experience how this kind of integrated partnership can work for your organization? Feel free to contact us.

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