How magicplan Became an Essential Part of Our Toolkit
Site Assessment
5 min read
Challenge
Digitizing damage documentation processes
Four years ago, BELFOR Germany came across magicplan at a trade show while seeking enhancements for digital damage documentation processes. At that time, project managers were using cameras and tablets.
Over the past three years, BELFOR Germany has been engaged in collaborative development with magicplan, acting as both a client and an equal partner. The team has shared feedback at the annual magicplan Industry Forum and received updates on software developments. This collaboration has led to customizations and developments within magicplan, with BELFOR Germany contributing feedback from early development stages.
The partnership is described as mutual and responsive, with BELFOR Germany presenting ideas and magicplan assessing feasibility and implementation timelines. BELFOR Germany notes that it has requested many features and recognizes the complexity involved for providers in fire and water damage restoration who want versatile solutions.
Solution
Using magicplan across restoration projects
Currently, 271 employees utilize magicplan. This number is expected to increase as BELFOR Germany continues to expand and upgrade digitally.
BELFOR Germany describes magicplan as its preferred tool for conducting damage assessments across all scenarios.
A typical workflow begins by capturing customer data in the ERP system. Because of the integration with magicplan, customer data can be transferred directly into the project within magicplan. This ensures the project manager has the necessary contacts without manual entry.
The project manager is assigned a schedule and, upon opening magicplan, automatically finds the project ready for the next visit.
After inspecting the site and conducting the assessment, the data is automatically sent back to the filing system and archived.
In the digital archive, both the project manager and the administrative staff can access the floor plans from the cloud.
Employees can access the data to create offers based on other documentation such as quotes or custom forms.
The integration also makes documentation more user-friendly with specially created annotations.
Results
Training, employee feedback, and time savings
For basic functionalities, BELFOR Germany uses magicplan’s e-learning platform along with internal training materials to cover essential topics. This is supplemented by hands-on training during onboarding.
The initial training lasts about 8 hours and enables users to become proficient with magicplan within a week. Training focuses on alleviating uncertainties and encouraging practical experimentation with the tool.
Employee feedback is described as extremely positive. Users report a significant reduction in workload, and feedback from stakeholders and customers has been outstanding.
Time savings are described as subjective and not measured objectively. BELFOR Germany reports that magicplan significantly saves time each day, and depending on the project size, this can increase to several hours.
With consistent use, work is completed on-site with magicplan, eliminating the previous method of initial paper-based work on-site followed by additional work in the office.
Outlook
Cloud usage and ongoing development
BELFOR Germany uses the magicplan Cloud for every project from start to finish.
When asked to describe magicplan in one word, Laars Diehl responded:
“Cool ;-) (Awesome stuff, but that’s two words)”
He also described magicplan as a tool that delivers benefits and noted that daily operations focus heavily on efficiency. He stated that leveraging the capabilities of magicplan makes it a potent instrument, and that exploring its features can lead to discovering more than expected.
