By
“It was only when we replaced Google Apps with Office 365 that we reached the level of standardization and integration that we need to support our dynamic growth.”
— Gerald Gunsch, Chief Information Officer, Physiotherm
Business Needs
An independent company located in Thaur, Austria, Physiotherm develops, manufactures, and markets infrared cabins. Its mission is to use direct low-temperature infrared technology to promote health.
In the past decade, Physiotherm has grown from 15 employees to 220 employees, and it opens an average of 10 new locations throughout Europe each year. The company has more than 50,000 customers, including spas, clinics, wellness facilities, and 5,000 hotels. It sought a cloud-based productivity solution to manage growth across borders.
Solution
Physiotherm tried Google Apps, but it lacked easy integration with the Microsoft Office suite of applications. “At the beginning, Google Apps seemed simple and straightforward, but it soon became nearly unmanageable,” says Gerald Gunsch, Chief Information Officer at Physiotherm.
In 2012, the company adopted Microsoft Office 365, an online service that unites familiar Microsoft applications with the power of email, calendaring, collaboration, and communications. “Office 365 fit in seamlessly with the company network, which reduced the technical complexity immensely,” says Gunsch.
The company can now manage user accounts with a single Active Directory database. Employees can access the most current data from anywhere. Physiotherm plans to make it possible for employees to use Microsoft Lync Online and SharePoint Online to communicate and collaborate.
Benefits
- Reduces IT complexity. The company’s IT professionals can concentrate on core services and develop the next generation of business-aligned IT initiatives.
- Improves usability. Employees can bridge distances, use social media tools, and further automate processes with cloud-based tools.
