Digital Workstations for swb

With the support of Arvato Systems, swb has implemented the Microsoft Digital Workplace approach. This allowed the energy service provider to implement a key component of its cloud-first strategy and completely reorganize its office IT. As part of the project, we successfully connected swb’s on-premises environment with Microsoft’s cloud world.

Client Benefits

swb receives a wide range of services and applications from a single source, ranging from consulting to configuration, implementation, training, and support. The investment in the Microsoft cloud offers the energy provider a great number of additional benefits: shorter roll-out application development times, faster adaptation of new IT applications, and lower operating and support costs.

Another decisive advantage is that swb employees are more satisfied and work more productively.

Project Overview

Initial Situation

As a long-standing outsourcing client, we provided swb with full and comprehensive support, ranging from on-site support to network infrastructure and application maintenance. The workplace was still based on a central IT approach with domain-managed hardware, traditional software distribution via Matrix 42, and a wide range of applications.

Vision

The new CIO swb had a clear vision: To develop swb’s IT into the most cutting edge of any energy supplier in Germany. Under the motto of “cloud first,” the existing office IT was to be further developed into a modern workplace. The top priority was to use Microsoft technology throughout as much of the project as possible so as to exploit the synergies provided by a uniform “IT ecosystem.”

Solution

Microsoft 365 forms the core of the implemented solution. The uniform licensing and the intelligent connection of Windows 10, Office 365, and expanded security functions from features enable you to provide workstations more simply, more homogeneously, and faster than was previously possible. This also includes replacing all of the company’s hardware, relying on modern convertible devices from Lenovo. This is because these devices already support the new Microsoft Autopilot roll-out procedure, which simplifies the roll-out process. In addition, all users will be provided with bridging technology services from the previous office IT via Citrix, which will then be migrated to the cloud-enabled service. The process will see a large part of the managed services and processes be redefined, and a step-by-step provision of the O365 services is planned together with other Microsoft partners.

Our Services

As a long-standing Microsoft partner, Arvato Systems provided swb with support in the form of the following Digital Workplace services, including:

Introduction of Windows 10 and Microsoft 365

Hardware consultation and roll-out of Lenovo Yoga devices including training sessions

Mapping of software management in Microsoft Intune

Migration of Lotus Notes mailboxes to Exchange Online

Expansion of the Citrix landscape for all swb employees as a bridging technology

Expansion of on-site support and Skilled Service Desk

The Client swb AG

swb AG supplies the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven with natural gas, district heating, drinking water, electricity, and waste disposal services through its subsidiaries.
Its predecessor company Stadtwerke Bremen, which was converted in 1999, is one of the oldest municipal utilities in Germany.
With around 2,200 employees, swb AG generated sales of approximately €1.3 billion in 2016.

Go to swb website