Brunink Group saves time and increases efficiency with vPlan
We spoke with Thomas Brunink, managing director and the fourth generation of the family running the business. Since 1914, Brunink Group has been known for its craftsmanship in the machine factory, mechanical engineering, and industrial production. With 84 employees, they deliver complete production processes, from mechanical to electrical work, across various sectors such as the plastics, concrete, sand, paper, and recycling industries. Fun fact: Thomas’ father and uncle are also still part of the business. Truly a family-owned company!
A family business with a rich history
Thomas' office on the top floor of the building offers a stunning view. He shares how Brunink Group started humbly in a small village but has since grown into an industry leader. "Our flexibility and all-around craftsmanship attract the most diverse clients, all of whom are looking for specific solutions to their problems," says Thomas proudly. With specializations in engineering, construction, machine building, and industrial maintenance, Brunink offers a wide range of services. "Whether it’s new construction, renovation, or industrial maintenance, we keep the client’s process running."
“We keep the client’s process running.” - Thomas Brunink
The challenge of growth
Back in the day, the planning process was very different. In the 1980s, Brunink replaced its card catalog with Excel to organize manpower planning. Despite this progress, the company encountered the limitations of Excel. "We hit the ceiling in terms of planning capacity and efficiency," Thomas recalls. "Planning for our engineering, fleet, and technicians became more difficult. We had no insight into the planning and capacity, there were gaps we couldn’t identify, and not everyone was involved in the planning, which made communication difficult."
The introduction to vPlan
Brunink was introduced to vPlan through a client. "We were looking for a solution for all our departments and searching for good project management software," Thomas explains. "Nick and Jeroen from vPlan invited us and showed us how vPlan could make our planning visual. That immediately appealed to us."
The choice for vPlan
Thomas explains why they chose vPlan: "Visualizing your planning and the user-friendliness were decisive for us. From a backlog or card catalog, you can standardize everything and still put your own twist on it. I’m not a fan of customization, but vPlan offers the flexibility to do your own thing within a standard package."
Efficiency and overview
Since implementing vPlan, Brunink Group has made huge strides in efficiency. "Our planning meetings are alive again," says Thomas. "We’re really a time factory, so billable hours are crucial for us. With vPlan, we know exactly where the gaps and needs are. Everything works together and gives us a lot of calm and clarity."
The integration with their ERP system, Visma, was something Thomas wanted to build himself, and thanks to vPlan's excellent API documentation, it was very simple. The efficiency was further increased by the integration he wrote himself. "Now that we’re switching to a new ERP system, AFAS, the integration will be even better," Thomas says.
Impact on business operations
The impact of vPlan on Brunink Group has been significant. "It has brought overall calm. No more endless discussions, it’s now: ‘Just look in vPlan.’ Everyone knows what they have to do and what their role is," Thomas explains.
"Our planning meeting, which used to take 2.5 hours on Monday mornings, is now down to just 15 minutes. Thanks to more efficient working methods, we have more time for important tasks. Hours are now recorded per project by the different departments. Previously, everyone came with their own Excel sheet, and everything had to be entered manually. Now everything is organized in one place. Clients often say: 'Wow, you’ve got it all together!'"
A vision for the future
With vPlan, Brunink Group is supporting their growth strategy. "As your business grows, you need to maintain control over your organization. vPlan gives you exactly that overview. Multidisciplinary collaboration from one place, without errors caused by poor communication," Thomas explains. "The professionalization we’ve achieved is enormous."
The overall experience
The implementation of vPlan went smoothly thanks to the guidance of Anne, our consultant from vPlan. "She knew exactly what we needed. In the tech industry, you often choose between a standard package with connectors or a custom solution. We’ve noticed that customization is becoming less necessary. With vPlan, we can put everything together ourselves, and that fits perfectly with our project management needs."
Tip for other companies
Thomas has a valuable tip for other companies: "Use vPlan for more. For different types of planning: fleet management, resource management, certificates, you name it. People will start thinking, ‘That can be done in vPlan.’"
Brunink Group shows how a historically strong family business can continue to grow and innovate with the right tools. With vPlan, they have found a partner that supports them in their daily operations and future growth.
Thomas, thank you for the great conversation and your inspiring story!
