• Allows staff to work on the move with Google Workspace available on any device at any time

• Maintains strict security standards with two-factor authentication

• Enables IT staff to move from server maintenance to building new platforms to help the core business

Established in 1968, Italy’s Feralpi Group is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of construction steel. With more than 1,500 employees spread out across several locations, the group makes 2.5 million tons of steel every year and generates annual revenues of around 1.3 billion Euros. Although it operates in a traditional manufacturing sector, Feralpi prides itself on innovation and continuous improvement. It has begun using only scrap or recycled metal for its processes, for example, in order to minimize its environmental impact.

With an on-premises solution, Feralpi’s IT team employed significant resources just to maintain its servers. As most of the servers were in Italy, this meant that any time maintenance schedules were reduced, as during summer holidays for example, other regions couldn’t get the service they needed. The cost of buying and configuring new hardware as the company grew was also adding to an already considerable outlay.

Francesco also saw that the existing platform was restricting its employees to either their desktops or using VPNs. As a result, many working in the steel plants or on the move had limited communications with the central office. Wanting to create a platform where workers could be in constant communication wherever they were, Feralpi chose Google Workspace for its ease of use, its functionality with mobiles, and its cost-effectiveness, to deliver a new email and productivity platform.

The group teamed up with Google Cloud partner Huware to help with the migration. Not only did Huware have the technical expertise to pull off this wide-scale migration, it also had an innovative training program, called Google Guides, that made change management much easier for large companies like Feralpi. Moving to a new technology platform is always a shift, and some people adapt to it much more easily than others. Huware and Feralpi recognized this, and proactively identified the staff who were able to adapt to Google Workspace quickly, appointing them as Google Guides. With additional training, they were then able to act as a friendly resource for their colleagues, answering questions and showing them new tips and tricks outside the designated training sessions. "With the Google Guides program, Huware really paid attention to the human aspect of the transition to Google Workspace," says Francesco. "It was a very positive experience for us."

Huware and Feralpi took the time to prepare for the migration, identifying the technical and training challenges and how to overcome them. In three months, the migration was complete.

Gmail replaces the group’s existing email platform, relieving IT staff of the need to maintain servers and manage storage. Google Meet and Google Chat provide new ways of communicating quickly and easily beyond email. Drive replaces the existing file server for Feralpi’s workers to share and save their files. At first, they continued to use their traditional productivity tools offline and upload files to Google Drive, but very soon they completely shifted over to using Docs, Sheets, and Slides, due to the convenience and intuitiveness of features such as real-time editing.

According to Francesco, a crucial advantage of Google Workspace is its combination of convenience and security. "Two-factor authentication is really key for us," he says. "It means we can use any tool in Google Workspace on mobile without configuring VPNS, for example, while maintaining our high standards for security."