{"id":86971,"date":"2025-07-03T14:20:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T12:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skaylink.com\/?p=86971"},"modified":"2025-07-03T14:20:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T12:20:32","slug":"migration-at-ziehl-abegg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skaylink.com\/en\/case-studies\/migration-at-ziehl-abegg\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Exchange Online migration at ZIEHL-ABEGG"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Case Studies<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Global Exchange Online migration at ZIEHL-ABEGG<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Machine manufacturer ZIEHL-ABEGG wanted an IT infrastructure that matches the company\u2019s global structure. Skaylink provided them support for an international digital project.<\/p>\n

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A modern IT strategy and a digital infrastructure that matches the company\u2019s own innovative spirit: That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The company<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ZIEHL-ABEGG SE is one of the world\u2019s leading companies in the ventilation, control and drive technology sector. The products of the family-run company from Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, 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 \u2013 from Germany to India and as far as the U.S.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Our collaboration<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cWe aimed to act as flexibly and independently as possible,\u201d 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. \u201cThe team was open-minded and entirely focused on the project with us,\u201d Weinert explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The project<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe colleagues from Skaylink found an answer to every question \u2013 and a solution to every problem.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAkos Ponya, IT Project Manager at ZIEHL-ABEGG<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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. \u201cIt was one of our most important global projects in the area of IT,\u201d 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. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

As part of the migration, ZIEHL-ABEGG switched the business smartphones to the Outlook app: \u201cYou open it and it works the way it should,\u201d reported Akos Ponya. \u201cIt\u2019s intuitive and easy.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Field test passed with flying colors<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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\u2019s excellent human factor:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u201cI had the feeling that Skaylink wanted to first understand us as a company and then find the best solution for us.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAkos Ponya, IT Project Manager at ZIEHL-ABEGG<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The project at a glance<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Challenge<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In a global rollout, Exchange <\/span>O<\/span>nline<\/span> 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Solution:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The project structure and workflow were aligned with the customer\u2019s needs. The answers to key questions, such as those about special locations, were actively pursued.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Solutions used:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Microsoft 365 E5<\/span> with the products it contains such as Exchange <\/span>Online<\/span> and the Outlook app for smartphones<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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