The sustainable transition... that's what Dialoog vzw works towards every day. As an independent training and advisory center, the organization gives a tangible boost to ‘sustainable building and conscious living’. All very progressive, but then their own insights – read: systems – shouldn't be left behind. Dialoog vzw was aware of this, and that was immediately the starting point of their digital transformation.
Dialoog vzw informs individuals, organizations, and governments in Flanders about sustainable building, renovating, and living. Their starting point is more comfort with fewer resources and less energy. This way, they aim to reduce the environmental impact of the construction process. Based on the themes of water, energy, and building, they offer training programs, advice, and project support. For example, how do you implement rainwater harvesting, or how can you build in a nature-inclusive and circular way? A noble and necessary mission, therefore. But all those contacts and projects need to be managed effectively. Enter scapta.
Looking for efficiency & overview
Els Canini, Director at Dialoog vzw: “That management previously happened in an Access database. Our data was quite fragmented, and the database was maintained by one person. This wasn't a long-term solution for continuity, and I also didn't get the insights I needed. Not to mention working web-based. So yes, there were quite a few things on our wish list. It was high time we addressed the 21st-century needs."stick ”and were catapulted into it, so we researched the market."
Els submitted a request for more information about CRM systems via a Dutch website, only to be overwhelmed with phone calls and emails. That wasn't the intention, and besides, more than just a CRM was needed. “Our ambition was to organize contacts clearly, follow projects well from start to finish, do post-calculation, and so on,” Els continues. “We didn't necessarily need an extremely extensive or complex tool, but we did need something specific within a Microsoft environment. This is because, as a non-profit organization, we can utilize SOCIALware licenses that companies like Microsoft offer favorably to charities and non-profits. We are a small organization, so budget and time-efficient implementation were also important considerations, alongside functionalities and user-friendliness. Scapta emerged favorably from the market research, and I already knew their consultant Steven Seerden – there was immediate trust.”
For me, the new system makes a very big difference. We are coming from an old tool with an expiration date, and we now feel future-proof.
The Caninis ~ Director Dialogue vzw
Microsoft Power Apps
“In turn, we tried to listen carefully,” says Steven Seerden, CRM Business Consultant at scapta. “When we heard about the needs and the people at Dialoog vzw, we quickly understood that they needed an accessible and affordable solution. We landed on a custom-developed app via Microsoft Power Apps. We expanded on that, using all the standard components Microsoft offers, including integrations with Teams or SharePoint, for example.”
“A big advantage for us,” Els Canini continues. “We were already working with Microsoft products anyway, and it's great that everything is now connected: mailbox, calendar, documents, and so on. You're working in one system. Viewing project status, looking up information via a person... it's very convenient thanks to the app.”
The app was implemented through workshops facilitated by Steven Seerden: “It was particularly nice that Dialoog vzw wanted to spend time on a thorough testing phase. That certainly contributed to the success. We worked in various blocks and looked at what the team needed per module. I always kept in mind: what was in Access, and how can we get that more efficiently out of the new app? So that people can find their workflow again.”
Sustainable digital future
The go-live took place in July 2024. There are still some loose ends and open questions from end-users, and we at Scapta are taking them to heart. Els Canini is clear about the collaboration with us and the choice for Microsoft's Power Apps:
“For me, the new system makes a very big difference. We're moving from an old tool that was past its prime, and we now feel future-proof again. As soon as a request comes in – for example, to give an information session – I put it in the app. I now have it at hand for our team meetings, where I can immediately add input from the advisors. We use the app as a sort of guide for our weekly meetings. Bye bye, 35-page Word file. For the board of directors, I can immediately bring up a portfolio overview: a report with all requests and projects, including some analysis and graphs. There's no more cutting and pasting involved. Expanding functionalities is also always possible. We are also considering steps towards SharePoint for document management, so we can get rid of that external physical server. And in this way, our sustainable transition goes hand in hand with a digital one, ready for the future.”
Scalability is indeed a major asset of Scapta's solutions. And that's how we help organizations grow.