AFAS ERP Software was searching for a hosting provider that would be able to deliver high quality hosting for its web-based ERP services at an excellent – white label – price. Dell, the computer manufacturer, told AFAS about LeaseWeb’s qualities. As a result, LeaseWeb made available a virtualized dedicated hosting solution based on VMware.

THE ORGANIZATION

AFAS ERP Software is a Dutch vendor of ERP software. The family company was founded in 1996 and currently employs over 300 people. AFAS mainly targets small and medium-sized businesses with Profit, its ERP application. AFAS also supplies software for applications such as HRM/payroll and accounting. Many organizations, which include Ernst & Young, Kwik-Fit, Wibra, Free Record Shop, LeasePlan, Oad Reizen and Sandd, already benefit from AFAS’ software.

SEARCHING FOR EFFICIENCY

AFAS is a real family business. Its founders, Piet Mars and Ton van der Veldt, built their company into a respectable business on the basis of a clearheaded vision. Today, their sons are responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the company while the founders remain closely involved as members of the Executive Board.

Focus and efficiency are the key values in the founders’ vision. For instance, AFAS develops its software exclusively for the Microsoft platform and does not offer customization. The company does, however, always aim to perfect the standard software. Continuously searching for efficiency in the organization through process automation is an important quality of AFAS.

WEBBASED APPLICATIONS

AFAS launched AFAS Online, the delivery of web based AFAS applications in exchange for a periodical subscription fee, early in 2009. “Over 600 customers, including NOC/NSF, DAS Rechtsbijstand, KNVB and several hospitals, switched to the new system in the first three months after AFAS Online was launched,” says Rolf de Jong, Director of Architecture & Innovation.

Hosting is an important component of the web-based service. “Customers purchase the application inclusive of hosting, with AFAS acting as the point of contact,” explains De Jong. “This means that we have to be able to rely completely on the qualities of our hosting provider. ERP is a business-critical application for several customers.”

OUTSOURCING THE HOSTING

AFAS thought about becoming a hosting provider for its customers but eventually decided on outsourcing that part of the service. “We have nice premises in which we could have built our own data center,” says de Jong. “We also have the knowledge. But outsourcing our hosting to LeaseWeb was the better option from an economic point of view.”

“Several hosting providers made us an offer, but we wanted a party with a good continuous hosting infrastructure and high uptime. Our hosting provider also had to offer good administration and handle customer requests quickly. Dell recommended LeaseWeb, and they were the only provider on the market that offered what we were looking for,” says De Jong.

LEASEWEB

“We were searching for a hosting provider that would supply management up to and including the infrastructure layer – but no further,” De Jong explains. “LeaseWeb is such a company, and moreover they are nice people. The great thing is that, over time, we found that our organizations are very much alike. Both run by business people who are always looking to improve the company’s efficiency. For us that relates to the application. LeaseWeb focuses on the infrastructure. So we are complementary in that respect.”

VMWARE HOSTING

AFAS opted for a hosting solution with virtualized dedicated servers, which LeaseWeb runs in its energy efficient data center EvoSwitch. Initially we thought that VMware would be too costly, but LeaseWeb has its own VMware platform on which the virtual servers run. The price of such VMware servers was more attractive than we had first believed.”

AFAS managed to fill 38 virtual servers to capacity with 600 customers in the successful first three months. “A good start, in our eyes. It is one of the reasons we opted for virtual servers,” explains De Jong. “It is easier to scale up a virtual solution. Furthermore, virtual hosting can be configured much more efficiently, which fits our business philosophy.”