Founded in 1993, Pottu & Seitz is a landscape company in French-speaking Switzerland with 80 employees. Spread over several sites between the cantons of Vaud and Geneva, it is divided into six departments. By migrating to kSuite, the aim was to centralise and secure files by ensuring a smooth flow of information between employees and customers.

Collaboration – a core requirement

Until 2024, the company used Microsoft SharePoint and a remote file server, hosted by an external provider and accessible only from the company offices. This fragmented system quickly became a problem: it was impossible to share a file via a simple link, collaborate in real time or maintain a unified tree structure. This resulted in duplication, complex management and limited access to files in the field. With large files such as 3D models, Photoshop renderings or InDesign presentations, the IT team had to find a reliable solution to share files easily, access documents from any location and maintain a clear organisation despite the diversity of business areas.

In terms of communication, emails had already been hosted by Infomaniak for ten years, but the teams used Outlook as their main tool. The large volume of messages exchanged also led to synchronisation problems: emails not received or sent, folders duplicated, etc. Each employee also managed their own calendar and contacts individually via Outlook or iCloud, without any form of centralisation.

To support the growth of its business, Pottu & Seitz needed a unified and reliable collaborative work environment that was easy to manage, easy to use, accessible from outside the office and capable of streamlining communication between the teams, regardless of their business area or location.

What needed to be done

  • Centralise all files in order to simplify organisation, avoid duplication and group documents from different departments together in a single, clear tree structure.
  • Facilitate file sharing and simultaneous collaboration while improving data accessibility, particularly between the design office and employees on construction sites.
  • Ensure scalable and secure storage to support the increase in data volume generated by the activity of the design office.
  • Set up a secure internal messaging service in order to reduce the volume of emails and streamline exchanges, with a tool hosted in Switzerland.
  • Simplify the arrival of new employees through standardised configuration and automated access.

Why Infomaniak?

The key criteria were ease of use, data sovereignty, ecological consistency and value for money.

Romain Richner, Head of Communication and IT – Pottu & Seitz:

Costs are under control

Infomaniak’s offer is more advantageous than those of the web giants, while also offering generous storage space. For Pottu & Seitz, this is an economically viable solution without compromising on functionality or the data security of our customers.

The kSuite ecosystem is complete and easy to use

kSuite meets our day-to-day needs. All tools are grouped together in one space: files, emails, contacts, calendars, internal messaging and videoconferencing. The interface is easy to use, which fosters team buy-in. For a company like Pottu & Seitz, this makes it possible to work in a unified ecosystem, without distraction, and thus to gain in efficiency.

The data is hosted in Switzerland

Working with a local provider was a key criterion. All company data is hosted in the heart of Europe and processed responsibly. This choice enables Pottu & Seitz to strengthen its digital sovereignty and guarantee the confidentiality of its information.

Infomaniak is in line with our values

Working with nature on a daily basis, Pottu & Seitz pays particular attention to the environmental impact of its partners. Infomaniak was also chosen on this basis: the company is powered entirely by renewable energies and is taking active steps to reduce its ecological footprint.

Implementation: kSuite as a central hub for all data and communications

kSuite was deployed in four phases:

  1. Centralisation of contacts and calendars
    Contacts and calendars were incorporated into kSuite in order to replace the individual management that was previously used. A shared internal directory was set up to provide teams with constantly up-to-date information. When an employee joins or leaves the company, the update is carried out in kSuite and automatically passed on to all employees’ phones and tablets. Shared calendars make it easier to coordinate between teams.
  2. Widespread use of Infomaniak Mail
    Use of Outlook was suspended in favour of the Infomaniak Mail web interface and mobile app. This change eliminated the bugs and synchronisation issues encountered in the past. Teams find it easier to use, benefit from integrated tools such as the AI assistant and enjoy seamless integration with kSuite contacts and calendars.
  3. Migration to kDrive
    The implementation of kDrive began with the creation of teams in kSuite and the assignment of access rights. The files from the design office were then migrated to a new, clear and consistent tree structure. The kDrive app was installed locally on the workstations to enable file synchronisation, and labels were gradually created to improve file sorting. The migration started with the technical office documents and has now been completed in all departments.
  4. Deployment of kChat
    This is a break with the “100% mail” organisation that had been in place for years. The IT team began to roll out kChat gradually: the main channels were created upstream and then added as required, by site or sector of activity. kMeet now complements this environment to facilitate communication and collaboration in real time.

Results

Accessibility: company files are available anywhere, any time. Be it in the office, on construction sites or on the move, access to data is guaranteed. Thanks to the unified kSuite interface, employees work more efficiently, without having to juggle several tools or be on site to obtain the information they need.

Collaboration: sharing information with customers is simplified. Pottu & Seitz now uses kDrive to generate shared links to its watering schedules. Customers can access them directly by scanning a QR code placed next to their programmer, guaranteeing quick and continuous consultation when required.

Instant communication: communication between the 80 employees is modernised. Adopting kChat has made it possible to reduce the volume of internal emails considerably and to streamline communication. The teams also rely on kMeet to organise occasional videoconferences.

Onboarding: integration of new employees is facilitated. User profiles can be created in just a few clicks, with rights immediately configured in kSuite, thanks to the teams. Access to calendars, contacts and files is automatically deployed on devices, speeding up and securing the onboarding process.

Sovereignty: privacy safeguards are strengthened. By adopting kSuite, hosted in Switzerland in data centers at the cutting edge of innovation in terms of their ecological footprint, Pottu & Seitz confirms its commitment to responsible digital technology. This strategic choice also enhances its image among its clients and partners.

More

Discover Pottu & Seitz
kSuite Pro, the sovereign collaborative suite
kDrive, the secure storage solution
Infomaniak Mail, the professional Mail Service
kChat, the internal instant messaging service