Microsoft® Customer pmOne Saves 3,700 Hours Anually with Windows® 7 Professioanl - Case Study

1. Windows 7
Customer Solution Case Study
Microsoft® Customer pmOne Saves 3,700
Hours Annually with Windows® 7
Overview “Windows 7 is much more than eye candy. It will help
Country or Region: Austria
Industry: IT Services
you accomplish more in less time – and you won‟t
want to go back.”
Customer Profile
Michael Gfrorner, IT Director, pmOne
Austria-based pmOne provides leading BI
and CPM Solutions to approximately 200
small- to medium-sized businesses across
the region. Founded in 2007, Austria-based pmOne provides innovative
Business Intelligence and Performance Management solutions to
Business Situation
PmOne wanted to speed up core business
around 200 companies. The company provides comprehensive
functions and enhance mobility to foster consulting, planning, and ongoing support to help customers meet
greater productivity and continue providing
the complex challenges of today‟s global marketplace.
leading solutions to its growing client base.
Solution Although the company‟s leaders believe that nothing is impossible
By deploying Windows 7 Professional,
pmOne was able to accelerate everyday given enough time, they recognize that rising economic concerns
tasks and increase mobile flexibility, giving are pressuring employees, partners, and clients to get more done in
employees more time to get more done
less time - with minimum cost. They began to lookout for the most
while strengthening customer
relationships. efficient, flexible and cost-effective technical solutions that would
facilitate greater productivity and mobility for workers increasingly
Benefits
 ~3,700 hours saved annually on-the-go.
 Reduced downtime
 Battery life extended ~10%
 Increased mobile user flexibility
By deploying the Windows® 7 Professional Operating system,
pmOne found the fast, reliable and effective solution it was
seeking.

2. “The Windows Desktop Situation Extended battery life and simplified network
PmOne needed to find a way to speed up set ups facilitate greater flexibility for users
Search is so good, that I internal processes so it could boost employee who rely on their mobile systems when
don‟t even maintain a productivity and dedicate more time to traveling to core business functions or setting
providing the high-quality customer service up presentations. Combined, these
folder structure on my and innovative solutions it had become improvements have allowed pmOne to
local drive anymore.” known for. Resuming systems from sleep significantly improve productivity and
mode would take several minutes, and core dedicate more time to developing robust
Michael Gfrorner, IT Director, pmOne tasks like creating training manuals for solutions for its customers.
consultants or installation guides for
customers was time-consuming and labor- Benefits
intensive.
Speeding Up Core Processes
Since the company sends consultants to work Faster start up and resume means users no
on customer sites, they relied on efficient, longer have to wait several minutes for
reliable laptop systems. But they often found systems to respond – shaving off minutes of
that batteries would run out of power in just a idle time each day. Users working with
few hours. Also, setting up new network several documents simultaneously benefit
environments meant scouring through lists of from the easy-to-use features included with
available connections to find the right one. the Windows 7 Aero® enhancements. Users
can use this feature to “snap” windows side-
It became clear to pmOne that in order to by-side to view several at once, or “peek”
accelerate everyday tasks and foster a more behind them to see what‟s on the desktop.
user-friendly mobile working environment, it
would need to find a fast, intuitive and cost- “Overall, my PC runs much faster with
efficient solution. Windows 7 than with previous systems and I
use Aero enhancements like „snap‟ and
Solution „peek‟ all the time,” says Michael Gfrorner, IT
To make this vision a reality, pmOne turned Director of pmOne. “In fact, I wonder how I
to Windows 7 Professional. Designed with a ever got by without these features.”
“[Windows 7 offers] an more intuitive user-interface and faster core
processes than previous systems, Windows 7 The Windows Desktop Search also helps
improved user interface allows users to get more done in less time. As users save significant amount of time. This
that should allow for Brad Brooks, Corporate Vice President of search engine scans the PC, HomeGroup,
Windows Consumer Product Marketing, network, or even the Internet to find what
faster boot-up and shut- points out, Windows 7 offers “…an improved users are looking for – all they have to do is
down times; improved user interface that should allow for faster
boot and shut-down times; improved power
type a search phrase in the Instant Start
Search box. “The Windows Desktop Search is
power management for management for enhanced battery life; and so good, that I don‟t even maintain a folder
enhanced battery life; increased reliability, stability and security.” structure on my local drive anymore,”
Gfrorner says.
and increased reliability, By simplifying tasks like file searches, and
stability and security.” improving system responsiveness, users no
longer have to wait for their systems to
Increasing Flexibility
For professionals who frequently travel to
Brad Brooks, Corporate Vice President, respond – giving them more time to focus on client offices for meetings or to provide
Windows Consumer Product Marketing, crucial projects and strengthen customer consultative support, having efficient, reliable
Microsoft Corporation relationships. systems is crucial. With improved Power

3. “Power Management is Management integrated with Windows 7, Simplifying Resolution and Training
laptop batteries last longer so users can rely PmOne‟s company leaders have seen a
just great. This feature on their machines running for hours at a dramatic improvement to speed, reliability
helps my machine run time. This energy-smart feature automatically and productivity by using Windows 7. They
shuts off components and applications that have even found an unexpected way to help
at least 20-30 minutes are not in use and employs adaptive screen customers streamline software integration
longer than it did when display brightness to maximize energy usage. with Problem Steps Recorder, a new feature
“Power Management is just great,” says included with Windows 7. By taking screen-
running previous Gfrorner. “This feature helps my machine run by-screen snapshots quickly and easily, this
systems.” at least 20-30 minutes longer than it did new feature not only helps resolve IT issues
when running previous systems.” faster, but also assists in the creation of
Michael Gfrorner, IT Director, pmOne training manuals – a tool that pmOne relies
With Network Connection Wizard, users can on to train new consultants and show
connect to new network environments quickly customers how to install new systems.
and easily. Instead of displaying lists of
potential connections from which users have “Problem Steps Recorder is fantastic,”
to choose, this feature detects and connects Gfrorner said. “It works perfectly for solving IT
to the right one instantly. “The Network issues, but with the ability to take step-by-
Connection Wizard works perfectly,” said step screenshots, it is also perfect for
Gfrorner. “I only wish I had had this feature creating manuals and training documents.”
sooner!” he says with a smile.
Spreading the Word
Gfrorner is equally enthusiastic about the With all the enhancements combined,
Mobility Center feature, which allows users to Gfrorner suggests that other businesses turn
control all mobility settings, such as to Windows 7 for improved performance and
presentation settings, and extend desktop-to- greater productivity. “I‟ve already
mobile devices simply by pressing the recommended Windows 7 to clients and
Windows key + P. “I can‟t tell you how helpful business partners – but I‟ve always given
Mobility Center is,” Gfrorner says. “Simply them a bit of advice,” he said. “It‟s an
put, I‟ve been waiting for this feature since I attractive system with a great design, but
started using laptops – and I‟m extremely don‟t let its good looks fool you: Windows 7 is
“Problem Steps pleased that Windows 7 has made this a much more than eye candy. It will help you
Recorder is fantastic. It reality.” accomplish more in less time – and you won‟t
want to go back.”
works perfectly for
solving IT issues, but
with the ability to take
step-by-step
screenshots, it is also
perfect for creating
manuals and training
documents.”
Michael Gfrorner, IT Director, pmOne

4. For More Information Windows 7
For more information about Microsoft Faster and more reliable: Windows 7 will help
products and services, call the Microsoft your organization use information technology
Sales Information Center at (800) 426- to gain a competitive advantage in today‟s
9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft new world of work. Your people will be able to
Canada Information Centre at (877) 568- be more productive anyway. You will be able
2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of- to support your mobile work force with better
hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone access to shared data and collaboration
(TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in tools. And your IT staff will have better tools
the United States or (905) 568-9641 in and technologies to enhance corporate IT
Canada. Outside the 50 United States and security, data protection, and more efficient
Canada, please contact your local deployment and management.
Microsoft subsidiary. To access information
using the World Wide Web, go to: For more information about Windows 7, go to:
www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com/windows/business
For more information about ACP IT
Solutions GmbH products and services, call
or visit the Web site at: www.acp.at
For more information about pmOne GmbH
products and services, call +49 89
642499-0 or visit the Web site at:
www.pmone.com
Software and Services
 Products
− Windows 7 Professional
© 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This case
study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
Microsoft®, Windows® and Aero® are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are
property of their respective owners.
Document published July 2009