Case Study
A remote workplace rollout on a (inter)national scale
As a modern energy supplier, Eneco proudly helps consumers and businesses make the switch to renewable-energy sources. It’s a sustainability commitment the company takes seriously internally too, which has helped it build a strategic partnership with Microsoft where both companies can help the other achieve their sustainable goals.
Details
Company: Eneco (modern energy supplier)
Size: 1,000 – 5,000 employees
Date: 2020
In 2020, Eneco started a project to create a stable modern workplace – choosing both Microsoft hardware and software to help create a seamless remote-working experience for everyone across the energy group. To implement this rollout quickly and efficiently, Eneco made use of the Digital Deploy software.
Modern workplace
“From the moment they first unpack their machine and switch it on, we want everything to be set-up for that specific employee’s working environment – allowing them to start work in the best possible way.”
This is the modern workplace vision that Mark Edelbroek, Head of Business Technology and IT Operations at Eneco, wants for every employee across the Dutch energy group.
“COVID-19 meant we couldn’t work with our employees in person to help tailor the new devices. So, we had two challenges—choosing hardware to suit everyone’s needs and finding a new way to remotely roll out this project across Europe.”
Rollout with Digital Deploy
With the lease on the company’s existing hardware coming to an end in 2020, Edelbroek’s team launched a project to implement a new range of cutting-edge devices that met the needs of Eneco’s workforce. With 4,000 people spread across Europe, the rollout of a fleet of new devices would be a challenge at any time. The COVID-19 outbreak, however, would make it a logistical nightmare.
To avoid people coming into Eneco’s offices, the team needed to plan a remote rollout of these Surface devices to make sure everyone got the right equipment. “Planning a deployment of this scale is an achievement in itself,” says Ron Roozeboom, manager Digital Workspace at Eneco.
To help with the logistical challenges it faced, Eneco brought in device deployment partner NEG-ITSolutions. The company has more than 25 years of experience in helping organizations manage their workplace deployments, along with bespoke solutions that help deliver this new hardware to each employee and get them set up either from an office location or their own home. NEG uses Digital Deploy, a smart lifecycle management tool, to deploy and manage devices.
“We’re flexible, we’re stable, and now able to roll out devices easily to new user groups or even new countries — which I think will really play into Eneco’s expansion strategy and help with any future mergers or acquisition.”
Up and running within half an hour
With Digital Deploy, a smart device deployment tool, we could collect address data, track packages, and most importantly, make sure everyone got up and running within half an hour,” explains Roozeboom. “It was a completely different rollout from what we were planning to do, so we ran a small pilot program to test NEG’s solution with Digital Deploy and the feedback was really good.”
User centric experience
“NEG also helped us create a portal with Digital Deploy where employees could select their device,” he adds. “Some travel a lot and need smaller or lightweight machines, while others may need a larger screen or faster processor. So based on these predefined personas, we selected four machines for people to choose from – the 13.5″ and 15″ Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7, and a higher-spec Surface Book 3 for the heavy users.
“When we sent out the email, we were astonished that within a week we had responses from more than 70 percent of employees. It was great to see everyone’s response, and with Windows Autopilot, every employee can set-up their new hardware from home without any physical help from IT – which in the current world is a big benefit to have.”
A strategic partnership for the future
With 1,500 new Surface devices now in the hands of Eneco employees and more than 1,500 on their way, the company’s stable modern workplace vision is becoming a reality.
The results
With the use of Digital Deploy, this company has saved itself a lot of time. The IT department can now focus on their important work.
%
employees that responded within a week
%
employees up an running within 30 minutes
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