Customer Case
Olyslager used model-driven development to migrate its Lubricant Information System to the cloud
Olyslager specializes in providing data on lubricants for a multitude of vehicles and industrial equipment. By collecting and combining global data from oil producers and information from engine manufacturers, it can make recommendations for the correct lubricant. The company has migrated its core system to the cloud using the Thinkwise Platform to increase efficiency and accelerate the introduction of new services to the market.
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SKVR becomes more data-driven with Thinkwise
400
ART PROFESSIONALS
33%
TIME SAVED
1 year
TO MVP
“There was a cost-saving target for our support departments, and completing this project has certainly contributed to meeting that.”
SKVR stands out for the diversity of its activities. With nearly 400 cultural professionals, the organisation makes art and cultural education accessible to the people of Rotterdam — from young children to vulnerable older adults. It operates across education, the social domain and the open course market, covering a broad range of artistic disciplines.
“Our wide scope means we run both B2B and B2C processes. We also handle the transport of our own instruments and teaching materials. That’s why we have a dedicated planning department that schedules lessons, reserves resources — and even employs our own drivers. We aimed to bring all of these logistical and commercial processes together in a single application, with customised functionality for each domain we operate in, but built around a standardised workflow,” says Remie van Os, Operations Manager.
The initial goal was to replace the ERP system SKVR had been using since 2012.


“That system was relatively expensive to maintain and required a lot of internal capacity to operate effectively. It also wasn’t particularly user-friendly, which meant we relied heavily on spreadsheets for planning, timetables, and the performance reports required for our subsidy providers. We wanted to move away from that setup — it was error-prone and limited our flexibility and responsiveness,” Van Os explains.
The new application also needed to support more data-driven decision-making. In 2021, SKVR launched a tender process.
“We explored an upgrade of our existing system and spoke with niche providers who were strong in parts of our sector. But because of the diversity of our organisation, we couldn’t find a one-to-one match. That changed when we discovered Thinkwise through system integrator Backbown, who ultimately won the tender.”
After a false start with Backbown — which has since gone bankrupt — Thinkwise took over the project in the summer of 2023. They began by reviewing the software that had already been developed, checking the data quality, the structure of the Software Factory, and whether everything had been implemented consistently. Based on this review, a number of improvements and adjustments were made, and the remaining development required to deliver a minimum viable product (MVP) was identified. The project was completed at the end of 2024 with the delivery of CORE.
“CORE stands for Course Registration — C-O-R-E — but it’s also the core of our organisation: the central system we work in,” explains Van Os. “We use it for sales, invoicing and registrations. It handles our planning and logistics, it's connected to our financial system and our website, and it’s accessible from any device.”
According to Van Os, the collaboration with Thinkwise has been smooth from the very beginning.
“The service desk — and even Thinkwise’s lead developer — are highly accessible. Communication is fast and direct, which I really value. It’s a very customer-oriented partnership. We also trained one of our staff members as a functional administrator, which really helps to manage questions from across the organisation.”


SKVR has already experienced several key benefits:
- Time savings and efficiency:
SKVR is now able to deliver the same output with one-third fewer FTEs.
- Faster subsidy accountability:
Team and project leads now generate their own reports from CORE, allowing audits to take place as early as August instead of later in the year.
- Improved planning and control:
With the built-in forecasting and planning tools, they now have real-time insight into performance and can make timely adjustments. - Enhanced internal control:
Teachers log in themselves, check expected attendance and digitally register who is present — bringing both clarity and peace of mind.
- Greater ownership and focus:
Staff manage their own registrations and immediately see the results, shifting the focus back to what truly matters: teaching and organising meaningful activities.
SKVR carried out a thorough internal evaluation of the entire implementation and development process — from the initial tender through to the final delivery of the MVP. Based on this experience, Van Os has several valuable tips for organisations preparing for a similar journey:
- Make sure your due diligence is in order during procurement. Ask for references or request a proof of concept.
- Ensure your internal project structure is clear. Separate the project leadership from those responsible for content and subject matter — ideally setting them up outside the existing organisational structure.
- Be transparent and realistic about the complexity involved. Accept that implementation may require postponing certain activities, and ensure your business processes are in good shape beforehand.
- Understand that this is not just an IT project. It fundamentally changes your organisation — including how people work together. That should not be underestimated.
- Involve staff from all levels right from the start. This allows you to define requirements that reflect the whole organisation, helping to build support across the board.
SKVR is now in a new phase, exploring where further optimisation and automation might be possible.
“It’s a great product and it’s up and running — but there’s still so much more we can do with it. And that’s the beauty of Thinkwise and a truly tailored solution: you can shape it entirely to fit your organisation,” Van Os concludes.
Olyslager
Cloud scalability
The new model-driven LIS System operates entirely in the Microsoft Azure cloud. In this way, Olyslager can make its information available worldwide to over 2000 users worldwide without delays.
Rapid Time-To-Market
Benefiting from the standard functionality of the platform, Olyslager was able to redevelop the core of their application within 8 months.
Multi-Language support
Besides the high speed of development, the language support the Thinkwise Platform offers is also of tremendous added value, because Olyslager delivers its services in no less than 35 languages.
What Olyslager says about
working with Thinkwise:
“Another major benefit of the Thinkwise Platform is that we can quickly and easily modify elements in the software, which are then immediately available for our customers. We can now modernize and improve our product much faster. And, in addition, we have short lines of communication with Thinkwise, so that we can react quickly and easily whenever required.”