"We wanted a combined system with connection to SAP within which the existing party-line cabling had to be used,' said Uwe Oswald, Project Manager with the LBS Management Division. ‘‘We needed the terminals to be not just user-friendly, but designed in such a way that they fitted visually with our architecture.”
"We wanted a combined system with connection to SAP within which the existing party-line cabling had to be used,' said Uwe Oswald, Project Manager with the LBS Management Division. ‘‘We needed the terminals to be not just user-friendly, but designed in such a way that they fitted visually with our architecture.”
LBS selected LEGIC technology for its contactless smart card technology. Together with an external consultant, potential suppliers were then selected and questioned. “The market comparison and call for tenders revealed the Kaba system to be the best, and the most suited to our infrastructure,” said Uwe Oswald. “We managed with the existing cabling. We were also convinced by the very close partnership between Kaba and SAP.
The benefits were already evident when the system was being installed. The connection was created quickly and without problem.” Project planning for the installation was carried out by a joint team of LBS and Kaba employees. “A very good working relationship developed,” Uwe Oswald is happy to report. In the LBS service centres in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, the ERP system was first tested in small rooms. Following a few adjustments, installation of the B-COMM ERP for SAP ERP solution as well as the B-Net terminals for time management and access control finally took place in April 2007. This saw old units successively being replaced by new Kaba terminals. The installation phase lasted for around two weeks. During this period, employees were able to enter both old and new identity passes. Because some sums of money were still partly entered against old employee cards, these vending machine vouchers were transferred to the new LEGIC cards during a two-week activity in Stuttgart. In both locations, LBS placed particular emphasis on comprehensive access control. Access readers were used to secure all external access points as well as access to the building from parking levels in the underground garages. Additional readers were installed on individual floors, in the executives' area as well as at the entrance to specific technical areas. There is a total of four separating revolving doors in the LBS reception area in Stuttgart which regulate access to the office building. The LBS data processing centre, which also houses the system's central processor, was also additionally secured using a security a gate. Only a few employees have access to this. All staff have access to all the normal entrances. The underground garage is accessible only to those with a parking place and who are authorized at the barrier. In Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, there are 1175 external staff (people invited to come and dine, people renting space, cleaners, tradesmen). They are granted access to the building only when they really need it.
LBS is overall highly satisfied with the combined system comprising Kaba based on LEGIC technology. “The system is running smoothly and was readily accepted from the outset by our staff, which was very important to us,” said Oswald. “The move across to the new system went through with no problems — partly because Kaba looked after us so well. We now have a future-proofed, flexible system that will grow with us.” It's a benefit which LBS is already pleased to have in place, given that the next access control developments are already available.