FHNW bachelor thesis about Vanillaplan

Our study was written by the bachelor student Aarondavid Loganayagam, supervised by Prof. Dr Olga Samuel.

The thesis was divided into two parts: the theoretical part examined in general terms how deployment and capacity planning typically works in medium-sized SMEs in the construction trade and what advantages digitalisation offers. Following on from this, it examined in general whether Vanillaplan is the suitable tool for the job. In the second part of the study, numerous expert interviews were used to assess what needs users from the construction industry have of resource planning software and, quite specifically, what added value they can gain from using Vanillaplan.

For the first, theoretical part, the theory of Gerd Maurer (Unternehmensführung im mittelständischen Bauunternehmen, Germany 1994) was chiefly drawn on as a comparison. Maurer shows that companies gain considerable added value from deployment and capacity planning. This benefit arises from resources being used better and from surplus capacity and capacity bottlenecks being identified and corrected at an early stage. What matters here is that both types of planning are considered together. According to the theory, then, linked deployment and capacity planning delivers added value. Since these requirements are met, Vanillaplan creates added value for companies.

Now that the theoretical benefit of resource planning had been confirmed, it was on to the practical part. Here, expert interviews were conducted with existing and potential customers. Asked about the use of deployment and capacity planning, one of the experts said: «Well, you have to know how many projects you have running and when the start and end dates are. That is certainly an important criterion. Part of it is also our aspiration to be fully occupied at all times. If, in our planning, we can shift the projects around and keep utilisation high, then we have achieved our goal with deployment and capacity planning». The experts were also asked questions about using Vanillaplan. Here it was above all the ease of use and the presentation that were praised: «The software is easy to use. Its playful nature goes down brilliantly. The staff enjoy the profile pictures. I also like being able to project the planning. In the end it has all the elements I need for planning.»

Both theory and practice show that companies gain added value from using deployment and capacity planning as implemented by Vanillaplan.

At this point Vanillaplan would like to thank Aarondavid Loganayagam, Prof. Dr Olga Samuel and the FHNW most warmly for this study.