Censo
Censo is a group of dedicated sustainability professionals with the ambition to make companies in the Netherlands CO2-neutral by 2030. Censo offers a wide range of services such as conducting sustainability scans, energy procurement, and the installation of charging stations, solar panels, and batteries. Censo, Connecting Energy Solutions, was formed from a merger of several companies.
Challenge
Before Censo transitioned to Microsoft Dynamics 365, they used an Excel file to track all customers and sales. “Of course, we faced many limitations with this. At the time, for example, it wasn’t possible for multiple people to work simultaneously in KOE (Customer Overview Energy), as we called the file. It was time to say goodbye to KOE and switch to Dynamics,” says Marcel van der Schagt, IT Manager at Censo.
The various mergers that led to Censo's formation resulted in a complex IT environment, where multiple systems needed to communicate with each other. The challenge was to seamlessly integrate and manage these systems, while also supporting Censo’s growth and future mergers. Additionally, Censo wanted to improve the efficiency and user-friendliness of their systems. They now use several Microsoft Dynamics 365 modules, including Sales, Customer Service, and Marketing, and have a fully customized backend for contract management.
Using Microsoft technology as the backbone, we aim to help Censo achieve their sustainability goals through digitalization, automation, and data-driven decision-making.
Approach
Censo has been working with Fellowmind for several years, mainly for more complex API integrations and technical support. Marcel explains, “When we have a technical challenge, we ask Fellowmind to come up with a solution or support us in solving it ourselves. A recent and important addition was the implementation of Fellowmind's Document Assist solution, which replaced the existing portal with a new, more user-friendly system.”
Regular roadmap sessions help discuss and implement the latest technological developments. This is important for Censo, as their internal team often handles development themselves. For more complex issues, they rely on Fellowmind’s expertise. “We really see Fellowmind as a knowledge partner. I find the collaboration very pleasant. Everything is communicated with complete transparency. The terms of the agreement are always clear right from the start, which makes the collaboration smooth and effective,” says Marcel.
Marcel also mentions a previous collaboration: “In the past, we worked with Fellowmind to try and merge two Dynamics environments. That project went very well and was actually 90% complete when it became clear that the business wasn’t ready for it yet. We had essentially created an IT solution for a company that didn’t yet exist. In hindsight, it was a good lesson, as it made us realize how important it is to have support. In the end, we were able to transfer many smart ideas that we had come up with at the time.”
We really see Fellowmind as a knowledge partner. I find the collaboration very pleasant. Everything is communicated with complete transparency. The terms of the agreement are always clear right from the start, which makes the collaboration smooth and effective.
Result
Thanks to the collaboration with Fellowmind, Censo now has a stable and well-integrated Microsoft Dynamics environment, and multiple different applications are a thing of the past. This led to better data insights, more efficient processes, an integrated customer view, and a more structured way of working. The integration of Fellowmind’s Document Assist solution also significantly improved document management. Marcel explains, “Dynamics is, of course, a complete package. If we didn’t have Dynamics, we wouldn’t be able to do anything anymore. But what makes Dynamics positive for us is its integration with all other Microsoft products. The complete Microsoft package is the biggest advantage for us.”
The combined efforts of Censo and Fellowmind provided a strong foundation for further innovation and growth, resulting in a more efficient and manageable IT landscape.
