ARP & Verwater.
(contractor for industrial and petrochemical installations)
Control over mobile devices in a complex IT landscape.
Antwerp and Rotterdam
Approx. 600 users
tablets
+- 250 devices
Samsung Knox Suite
About Verwater.
Verwater is a global contractor specialising in industrial and petrochemical installations, with a particular focus on the construction and maintenance of storage tanks. Operating from its headquarters in Antwerp and Rotterdam, the company supports clients across four countries—Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Estonia—with a team of over 1,000 skilled professionals.
The challenge.
Tom Raeymaekers and his team are responsible for all IT services within the organisation—from workstations and networks to laptops and smartphones. Tom explains: “Our laptops were already managed in Microsoft Intune, but mobile phones were a different story. We simply handed them out with a SIM card, without any MDM in place. Everything was tracked in Excel spreadsheets.”
This approach not only led to inefficiencies, but also posed real risks. “For example, if an employee didn’t make it through their trial period, we couldn’t be sure we’d get the device back. And even if we did, without the PIN code, it was useless to us.” At the same time, there was growing demand to use mobile devices for both business and personal purposes—without compromising corporate data.
“We were open to allowing this, but we lacked the structure to do it securely,” says Tom. When Verwater decided to roll out tablets in warehouses and on construction sites, the need for change became clear. “We wanted control—over the hardware, the apps, and most importantly, the data. But it had to be without sacrificing ease of use.”
Approach.
- Together with ARP, Verwater mapped out its challenges and requirements. ARP recommended a tailored combination of Microsoft Intune and Samsung Knox, adapted to different user groups and device types.
- ARP provided test devices and set up sample profiles. In close collaboration with Verwater, they tested what worked in practice—from kiosk mode to work and personal profiles.
- Once the final Mobile Device Management (MDM) structure was defined, it was technically implemented. New mobile devices were enrolled via zero-touch deployment, while existing devices were migrated in phases.
- ARP delivered the solution on-site, provided knowledge transfer to the IT department, and supported further optimisation. Verwater now manages its mobile devices independently, with ARP as a trusted partner.
Verwater was already familiar with ARP through previous hardware orders, so when the IT team began searching for a solution to manage its mobile devices, ARP quickly emerged as the ideal partner. “We were seeking a partner who could collaborate with us and bring proven expertise in MDM and that’s exactly what we found in ARP’s team of Technical Experts.” Together with Joël Mentink, Technical Expert at ARP, Verwater developed a management framework based on a combination of Microsoft Intune and Samsung Knox.
Verwater opted for rugged devices, including the latest Samsung tablets for drivers and warehouse staff, which had been designed to withstand extreme working conditions. The Samsung tablets were configured with a kiosk profile using Knox Manage. Zebra handheld scanners were integrated into Microsoft Intune for centralised management and set up in kiosk mode—intended strictly for business use.
“What I really appreciated was that we didn’t have to come up with solutions ourselves.” ARP actively contributed ideas, offered various options, and guided us through the entire process—from test devices and configuration to training our IT department,“ says Tom. The implementation went smoothly. “We kicked off around September 2024, and by the end of November, everything was set up exactly as we wanted. We’re now rolling out the new devices in phases.”
Technical highlights of the solution.
- Samsung Knox Manage – Used for kiosk management of Samsung tablets and Zebra handheld scanners (for drivers and warehouse staff).
- Microsoft Intune – Manages smartphones, enabling separation between work and personal use.
- Zero-touch enrolment – New devices are ready for use within ten minutes.
- Remote support – Devices can be managed remotely by the IT department via Knox Remote Support and Microsoft Intune.
- Firmware management with E-FOTA – Updates are centrally tested and rolled out in phases.
- Data insights with Knox Asset Intelligence – Provides real-time visibility into battery status, errors, performance and usage.
Result.
According to Tom, the difference compared to the previous situation is substantial: “We now have a single source of truth. Every smartphone or tablet is assigned to a specific person, and everything is managed centrally. No more hassle with half-completed Excel sheets that are often inaccurate.” Another key benefit is remote management. “Our employees are spread across Europe. Now we can take control of a device remotely, adjust settings, or install apps. That saves a great deal of time.”
End users have also responded positively to the change. “On smartphones, we now have a clear separation between work and personal use. Employees can use their devices for private matters without putting company data at risk. It works really well,” Tom explains.
Another major advantage of the setup for Samsung smartphones is that the separation between personal and business profiles ensures maximum privacy for end users. “The user has full control over the personal profile, and the IT administrator cannot access this data. However, Verwater can still enforce firmware updates in a user-friendly way, using Knox E-FOTA.”
The tablets and handheld scanners used by drivers and warehouse staff are configured in kiosk mode, with only the necessary apps available. Tom: “These devices are shared among employees. Thanks to kiosk mode, they can’t accidentally delete an app or change any settings. It is intuitive and reliable.”
Why Verwater chose ARP.
The collaboration with ARP has been so successful that Verwater is keen to continue the partnership. “We now order almost all of our hardware through ARP. The online shop is clear and works really well, and ARP actively supports us in finding the right solutions,” says Tom. Verwater is already considering a future with Choose Your Own Device.
What Tom particularly values in the partnership is ARP’s proactive approach. “Joël didn’t just propose a technically sound solution—he really involved us in the process. He explained the available options, took our specific context into account, and came up with concrete proposals. It felt like a true partnership, not a one-sided implementation.”
For Tom’s relatively small IT department, that support is invaluable. “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel ourselves. And we know that if anything comes up, ARP will be there for us.” Tom is also pleased with the peace of mind the new setup brings. “Previously, it was a bit of a guessing game who had which device and whether it was properly secured. Now we know for sure—and that gives us real confidence.”
We help organisations manage their IT hardware securely, scalably and with ease—from consultancy and setup to management and support. Want to learn more about our MDM solutions, such as the one implemented for Verwater? Get in touch!
* Required fields
Please read our Privacy Policy for information on how we process your data and protect your rights as a data subject.
By submitting this form you agree that ARP Nederland B.V. may process your personal details in line with our Privacy Policy. You also agree that we may contact you by phone about our products and services.