LeasePlan embraces the cloud for a more mobile future

LeasePlan, the world’s largest automotive fleet management company, is deploying Citrix cloud services technology globally to create a true enterprise mobility solution, providing employees with the opportunity to work from anywhere on any device, ultimately increasing productivity.
By opting for this solution, LeasePlan intends to transform its workplace environment by creating a more flexible, secure and cost effective IT operation that is estimated to save upwards of €40,000 per group company per year through removing duplicate and unwarranted IT costs.

LeasePlan Information Services, a subsidiary of LeasePlan that operates as an internal shared service provider to all LeasePlan Group companies globally, is working with Zinopy, a Platinum Citrix Solutions Provider, to deliver a private cloud service, based on Citrix XenApp®, Citrix Netscaler®, NetScaler Gateway™ and Citrix Receiver™. The intention is to create a centralised, virtual desktop that can be delivered to a variety of workers in LeasePlan offices across Europe, accessible via any device.

Key benefits include:
· Secure enterprise mobility – giving employees the opportunity to work wherever, whenever, on any device – such as a tablet, smartphone or a personal laptop
· Centralised data and applications – letting employees get fast and easy access to the applications they need to do their job effectively
· Effective business continuity – with data held in centralised Dublin datacentres, and delivered to offices all over the world, employees can continue to work even if their local office is inaccessible
· Significant cost savings – by creating a centralised cloud service, duplicated IT costs such as manually updating PCs with new software have been removed – and the life of hardware has been extended. Cost savings are estimated at €40,000 per hosted organisation every year

Ronan Murray, Infrastructure Manager at LeasePlan Information Services comments: “We have 2,900 users running on Citrix with a further 1,200 users to be rolled out in 2013 and 2014. Citrix technology, combined with Zinopy’s expertise, has proven to be a great enabler for our global strategy; it has allowed us to consolidate data and applications from across the business into central datacentres and deliver it back out to almost 3,000 users as a service.

“We now have an IT team of six supporting thousands of end users all over Europe. We’ve seen significant efficiencies by transitioning to this model and the deployment and management of applications is far easier. Our users see a benefit because they can work whenever and however they like,” Murray concludes.

Grace O’Rourke Veitch, Ireland country manager, Citrix says: “LeasePlan’s decision to transform its workplace environment will invariably have a positive impact on employees and the business. By providing the technology to break the shackles of office life, employee productivity and satisfaction will increase, whilst the business will reap the rewards of a more flexible, secure and cost effective IT operation.”