Jan and Diny built Dierenpension Olieke alongside their dairy farm. In 2018, they decided to focus entirely on boarding and dog breeding. Moving the admin online felt daunting for Diny, but ultimately proved practical.
The business began with requests from people who had bought a puppy from the family: could their dog come back for a stay? The first summer in 2008 went well, and more kennels followed. They later added cat boarding. The quiet, spacious rural setting suits the way Diny wants to care for animals.
From a planning board to working online
Diny started with a homemade planning board and later used a locally installed program. She worried about losing records if her laptop broke. After meeting Aniday at the Dibevo trade fair and talking to other owners, she decided to try it.
Time to learn with support
A trial, demonstration and further guidance helped Diny and a staff member get started. The switch was easier than expected. Diny says they quickly got the hang of the system by using it and asking for help when needed.
The decision also depended on their internet connection. Slow rural broadband had held Diny back for a long time. The prospect of fibre made working online a more realistic option. She called other boarding business owners to ask about their experiences. That gave her more confidence to try a new way of working.
Customers enter the details
Diny used to copy bookings from emails into the system. Now customers can book themselves and enter their dogs’ details. If someone calls instead, she can quickly find their existing information and add the booking. That cuts down on repeated data entry.
