Case Studies
Global Exchange Online migration at ZIEHL-ABEGG
Machine manufacturer ZIEHL-ABEGG wanted an IT infrastructure that matches the company’s global structure. Skaylink provided them support for an international digital project.
A modern IT strategy and a digital infrastructure that matches the company’s own innovative spirit: That’s what ZIEHL-ABEGG wanted to achieve. Ever since COVID-19 shook the world, they have been using Microsoft applications like Teams intensively at their locations around the world. As the next step, ZIEHL-ABEGG planned to implement Microsoft Exchange Online as part of a new, global hub structure. With Skaylink, they got the support of one of the top Microsoft Partners in Germany.
The company
ZIEHL-ABEGG SE is one of the world’s leading companies in the ventilation, control and drive technology sector. The products of the family-run company from Baden-Württemberg, Germany, are used in applications like heating and cooling systems, cleanroom and agricultural plants as well as motors for elevators, CAT scanners and deep-sea underwater vehicles. Worldwide, the machine manufacturer employs around 5,000 individuals in 15 production facilities and at 117 locations – from Germany to India and as far as the U.S.
Our collaboration
“We aimed to act as flexibly and independently as possible,” said Daniela Weinert (Team Lead Application, Cloud & Services at ZIEHL-ABEGG SE) to explain the decision in favor of implementing Exchange Online. This is why they looked for an IT partner with experience in the larger medium-sized and enterprise segment and Microsoft certification. After two rounds with multiple service providers, ZIEHL-ABEGG decided to go with Skaylink. “The team was open-minded and entirely focused on the project with us,” Weinert explained.
The close collaboration with Microsoft and detailed project planning in the introductory workshop clinched the deal. Skaylink answered key IT questions and, together with the ZIEHL-ABEGG team, developed a clear picture of the project. This pointed the way to an innovative, customized infrastructure. The challenge: an international team and a global rollout.
The project
“The colleagues from Skaylink found an answer to every question – and a solution to every problem.”
After detailed planning, the project team started the migration in January 2024. ZIEHL-ABEGG integrated individuals responsible for IT from its central locations in this process. “It was one of our most important global projects in the area of IT,” said Weinert. Earlier, the family-run company decided to implement a hub strategy for the IT infrastructure. This would be the first time it was used in practice.
An international team and a rollout for more than 3,000 users worldwide that would take place everywhere at the same time: What a challenge! To ensure that the effort would be successful, the project team divided the users into batches by department. This approach made it easy to implement user migration by the end of June 2024.
As part of the migration, ZIEHL-ABEGG switched the business smartphones to the Outlook app: “You open it and it works the way it should,” reported Akos Ponya. “It’s intuitive and easy.” He also pointed out the advantages that the Microsoft 365 environment offers. The users are familiar with it and feel comfortable working with the applications. As a result, they actively use them.
Field test passed with flying colors
A large-scale, global IT project turned out very well. The hub structure passed the first practical test with the rollout and has grown closer as a result. And the machine manufacturer is also very satisfied with Skaylink as an IT partner, emphasizing the collaboration’s excellent human factor:
“I had the feeling that Skaylink wanted to first understand us as a company and then find the best solution for us.”
The project at a glance
Challenge:
In a global rollout, Exchange Online was to be implemented in an infrastructure with more than 3,000 users. And for the first time at ZIEHL-ABEGG, they would be working in a global hub structure.
Solution:
The project structure and workflow were aligned with the customer’s needs. The answers to key questions, such as those about special locations, were actively pursued.
Solutions used:
Microsoft 365 E5 with the products it contains such as Exchange Online and the Outlook app for smartphones
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