Expansion Requires Connectivity.

“It’s a pleasure working with people like that.” An unusual compliment in the IT industry. Hans Peter Winkler is a System Administrator at BSI Business Systems Integration AG in Baden. He had to solve a problem: BSI has been expanding for years and wanted to connect its four locations in Switzerland and three in Germany. Communication between the sites is crucial and must function reliably at all times. He turned to the managed service provider Cyberlink in Zurich. “The company has competent and, above all, pragmatic employees. They have a hands-on mentality. You can call the technicians directly and clarify questions immediately. That helps us a great deal and is also efficient.”

The philosophy of the two companies is similar: short decision-making paths, flat hierarchies, and a constant focus on customer satisfaction. “Cyberlink’s claim is true: smart. competent. passionate. That’s why the collaboration was excellent right from the start.” BSI takes a similar approach. For example, every employee visits a software user once or several times a year. This provides valuable insight into how the software is used and the challenges faced on the front line. BSI develops software. Its core product is the CRM system “BSI CRM” for sales, marketing, and contact centers. In addition, there are industry-specific solutions for insurance, retail, and clinical studies. Around 70,000 users from all industries worldwide use BSI’s products. Prominent customers include Swiss Post, Gothaer, M-net, Degussa Bank, Walbusch, Lidl, Hermes, and Deutsche Bahn.

BSI was founded in 1996 as a spin-off from a software development department at ABB. Founded in Baden, additional locations later followed in Baar and Bern, Zurich, Munich, Darmstadt, and Düsseldorf. Winkler explains: “Our products are not only very well received in Switzerland. In line with our claim ‘meet your clients,’ it was clear to us that we should also open new locations in Germany to be closer to our customers.” Today, the company has 235 employees, 170 of whom hold a stake in the company.

To further improve business processes and collaboration between the locations, Cyberlink implemented a Worknet service for BSI and connected the four Swiss sites via fiber and copper in a DMVPN network. Of the three German branches, no Cyberlink internet connection had to be installed in Darmstadt and Düsseldorf, as BSI provides its own connections there. The Munich location was connected via an international Cyberlink connection. In addition, the high-end data center in Zurich was integrated into the network, simplifying access for all employees. The Cyberlink data center is FINMA-compliant, ISO-certified, and staffed 24/7. Power supply, air conditioning, security, and network access are designed with multiple redundancies.

Of course, any new installation is a challenge, but Cyberlink has extensive experience in the development and operation of customized solutions. This keeps project management costs low. Because the solution is a perfect fit, BSI also benefits from low investment and operating costs. Based on Cyberlink’s expertise and experience, as well as the flexibility of the solution, new requirements can be integrated quickly and easily, reducing time to market. Hans Peter Winkler was and remains highly satisfied: “The solution fits, and the entire implementation took only two months. That’s fast. Overall, the positive experiences we have had with Cyberlink have once again been confirmed.”