Oberndorfer Unifies Operations with New ERP System

Seamless Processes Now Power Every Stage of Precast Concrete Production

As Austria’s largest precast concrete company, Franz Oberndorfer GmbH & Co. KG draws on more than 100 years’ experience in the planning, development and production of precast concrete elements. This experience is the driving force behind the construction of many important buildings and projects in Austria and the rest of Europe.

Oberndorfer provides a comprehensive range of services from a single source—spanning production, delivery, and assembly—for construction projects of all sizes, including highly complex builds. Today, the company employs around 1,000 people and manufactures precast concrete at nine different sites.

At the beginning of 2025, Oberndorfer switched from its existing ERP system to the modern RIB One Prefab ERP across departments, a milestone for this leading precast concrete producer. Since then, all technical tasks are consistently managed using RIB Software, from order intake through to delivery.

All departments on a single platform

Oberndorfer was looking for a fully integrated system to streamline all technical tasks into a single, cohesive process. Their previous fragmented IT landscape led to duplicate data entries and obstructed cross-department collaboration. They needed a modern, web-based solution that offered secure, remote access while meeting their strict internal security requirements. The aim was to bring all processes, including cost calculation, together in a single, unified system.

To integrate with their existing commercial ERP system, a new connector was developed through the partnership between RIB One Prefab and Oberndorfer. Close, meticulous collaboration and thorough testing led to the smoothest software rollout the company had ever experienced. Building on previous automation projects, RIB brought a deep understanding of Oberndorfer’s processes, which proved invaluable throughout the implementation.

The transition to RIB began gradually, starting with installation planning, followed by transport planning, technical planning, and so on. Production planning, which is the most critical area, was the final step.

Wolfgang Feichter and the internal operations team used temporary interfaces to ensure that all departments could continue working without disruption during the transition. As part of the technology partnership, RIB developed core processes for precast production using the new ERP.

“We wanted a standardized and mature software with continuous development and excellent support. That’s exactly what we got with RIB One Prefab,” says Feichter.

Laying the foundation for process automation

IT Project Manager, Christian Scheiblehner, oversaw the practical implementation. Data was transferred from the original ERP system to RIB One Prefab and to the commercial ERP system. Now, only two programs interact, requiring just one interface, which is a major highlight, according to Scheiblehner.

“The system has received widespread praise across all sites for its robust functionality and user-friendly design,” he says. Feichter adds: “We’ve now laid the foundation for automation, which will further support employees in their daily tasks. That’s our focus over the next two years.”

A unified platform across locations

The RIB One Prefab ERP rollout happened step-by-step across production sites. “Each site produces different product groups. The first site to go live served as a model for the others,” says Scheiblehner.

Improved transparency and efficiency with dashboards

The integrated RIB BI+ analysis tool enables the review of all production and ERP data in one application.

“From spreadsheets to graphical dashboards, RIB BI+ gave us exactly what we envisioned,” says Feichter. “For instance, it allowed detailed planning and capacity analysis of production, as well as comparative evaluations of concrete requirements across product groups.”

RIB BI+ also supports integration of external databases, enabling diverse graphical analyses in one system.

Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage RIB BI+ for raw material forecasting—particularly for steel—by combining historical order data with real-time market pricing to generate accurate, system-driven predictions. For example, the purchasing team will gain access to timely, relevant insights to better manage contracts: Which components are in production? How much steel is urgently required? When are raw material prices most favorable? Dashboards like these are designed to enhance transparency and drive greater efficiency across operations.

Special transport and claim management: Ideas for automated workflows

“In the coming months, we’ll focus on implementing workflow automations,” say Scheiblehner and Feichter.

One idea involves special transport for oversized precast elements. Every Friday, dispatch will receive an automated email detailing parts requiring special transport, based on raw data, enabling precise transport planning.

Other automations aim to improve customer communication. Customers will be prompted to confirm pickup dates to free up warehouse space. If deadlines are missed, the system automatically notifies the responsible staff.

Technician matrix with skills and availability

Automated technician assignment in RIB One Prefab ERP will help ensure smooth production. Around 50 technicians with varying qualifications work across Oberndorfer’s sites. Matching technicians to specific products based on size, volume, and type is essential.

The system’s matrix factors in not only qualifications but also availability and workload, ensuring timely and uninterrupted production. This data is sourced either through the integrated planning and time-tracking module or via a connected external system.

Optimized logistics with the right equipment

The company also plans to track loading and working tools in the software. Concrete workflows are being developed to ensure every transport uses the correct equipment. A new workflow will perform all necessary checks in advance to ensure flawless logistics, avoiding issues like missing support frames at the construction site.

Conclusion

“The foundation is set,” conclude the department and IT project leads. “With our long-standing partner RIB, we’ve established a solid base for automation. Now we look forward to the added value it will bring to our sites and departments.”

Pictures from Oberndorfer:

1. Franz Oberndorfer GmbH & Co. KG is one of the leading providers of precast concrete construction in Austria. Now in its fourth generation, this family-run company draws on more than 100 years of experience in precast concrete production.

2. Smart factory at Oberndorfer. As part of the technology partnership, RIB developed the core processes for precast production using the new ERP system.

3. Precast production: With RIB BI+, it became possible to precisely determine production planning and capacity utilization.

4. The company is currently planning to track loading and work equipment using RIB One Prefab. Concrete workflows are being developed for transport processes, taking into account the correct loading and work equipment with all relevant details.