GO FiberConnect at VolkerWessels Telecom

“We make connectivity grow” is the slogan of VolkerWessels Telecom (VWT). As part of the VolkerWessels group, it focuses on the FTTH process and getting the Netherlands connected via fiberglass. It was the first party in our country to reach the milestone of one million Homes Passed. The company has been using GO FiberConnect for the rollout of its fiberglass networks for some time now.

Why did VolkerWessels Telecom choose GO FiberConnect? It had to do with the phasing out of its predecessor ‘FiberConnect,’ which they had been using for a while. That happened to coincide with new projects for various clients. It was the perfect time to put the new software to the test.

Myriad stakeholders and great time pressure

As a specialist and major player in the FTTH process, VolkerWessels Telecom works on dozens of projects at the same time. Some of these involve 25,000 connections, while others require 150,000 or more. Large or small, urban or rural environment; what all these projects have in common is that the company is under serious pressure and the various project parties have to work together closely to get the job done.

VolkerWessels Telecom has to think of their organisation and their own ‘interior’ planning. Then there are the client’s processes and wishes and the management of myriad external contractors and employees. Everyone has their own methods, orders and information  needs. Lastly, there is the communication with the resident or consumer whom all their efforts ultimately benefit. They are the final important link in the process and VolkerWessels Telecom tries to keep the hindrance they cause them to a minimum.

VolkerWessels Telecom emphasises the importance of up-to-date, reliable and digital information during the rollout process. This is crucial for an efficient and smooth process and a satisfied client. GO FiberConnect plays a critical role in this. It supports every phase of the rollout and is easy to use. This tool makes it difficult to skip or overlook any step of the process, says VolkerWessels Telecom. “Inspecting, splicing or connecting: after a task is done, it is checked off digitally and the next step in the workflow opens automatically.”

A complete overview anywhere and anytime

Because the information in GO Appeee is linked to the planning software of GO FiberConnect, insight into and an overview of the project’s progress is available at any time. VolkerWessels Telecom: “At every stage of the process, we have access to the right information – in the office and out in the field. That is important for ourselves, for the progress reports and for the information provision toward our client. They want to know exactly where we stand – sometimes even in real time – and what we have planned for the coming months.”

At every stage of the process, we have access to the right information – in the office and out in the field. That is important for ourselves, for the progress reports and for the information provision toward our client.

Another benefit is that GO FiberConnect’s standardisation restricts colleagues’ creativity. That may not sound like a good thing. What you want is a rigid and transparent information process. Of course, it should be possible – to a degree – to configure things to your liking or e.g. quickly modify an inspection form. GO FiberConnect does offer that freedom, according to VolkerWessels Telecom: “However, too much customisation or freedom can lead to an unwieldy amalgamation of different methods and forms. Then it becomes a real challenge to find the proverbial needle in the haystack.”

During the implementation and while setting up the various processes, it took some effort to determine what was and wasn’t possible. VolkerWessels Telecom call themselves a demanding client and they are not easily satisfied: “I think we both learned a lot during those first few months. Still, the lines of communication were kept short and we always communicated openly and directly. Yes, I can truly say that I enjoyed working together with my contacts at GOconnectIT from the very start. They are a no-nonsense party with extensive knowledge of and experience in the FTTH sector.”