Replacing its previous IT service provider presented Garage Gautschi AG with a major challenge. A new IT infrastructure had to be established within a tightly defined timeframe without disrupting ongoing business operations. In collaboration with Axians, a future-proof solution was developed, laying the foundation for a modern, secure and high-performance IT environment.

Garage Gautschi AG
Garage Gautschi AG combines technical expertise with customer-oriented service and modern infrastructure. With 230 employees across six locations, the company offers personal advice and tailored solutions for new and used vehicles, as well as individual customer requirements. Innovation, digitalisation and sustainable development also play a key role in the company’s business strategy.

Project Overview

  • Initial Situation

    Until 31 July 2023, the entire IT infrastructure of Garage Gautschi AG was managed and provided by an external IT service provider. The solution covered both the network infrastructure and the management of clients and servers. The company’s six locations across Langenthal, Lyssach and Thörigen were connected via an on-site network, while the central IT infrastructure was operated in an external data centre.

    With the termination of the existing IT service agreement, it became necessary to implement a new, high-performance IT solution. At the same time, a seamless transition had to be ensured, with the new environment meeting the company’s future requirements. The timeframe was clearly defined, making careful planning and close collaboration between all parties essential.

    The IT landscape is the heart of our company. That is why having a reliable and professional IT partner by our side is of great importance to us.
    – Markus Odermatt, Managing Director and Owner of Garage Gautschi AG

  • Challenges

    The IT migration was a complex project with a fixed deadline that left no room for delays. Within just three days, the transition to a new IT outsourcing provider, the implementation of a new network infrastructure and the introduction of a new DMS/ERP system had to be completed across six locations.

    Additional challenges arose from dependencies on the previous IT service provider and other partners. This required close coordination and regular meetings. As the new network could only be established during the migration itself, precise planning was essential.

  • Solution

    To create a high-performance and future-proof IT infrastructure, Axians implemented a comprehensive solution covering all core areas of the IT environment. The existing server infrastructure was migrated to the Axians Private Cloud, where a total of 15 servers are now operated securely, reliably and with high performance.

    At the same time, the client environment was modernised. With Workplace as a Service, employees benefit from standardised workplaces, modern devices and centralised management. This enables efficient operations and ensures a secure, continuously updated working environment.

    The network infrastructure was also completely renewed. New firewalls, switches and access points provide the foundation for stable, secure and high-performance operations across all locations. In addition, Microsoft 365, including security features, was implemented and the existing file server environment was successfully migrated.

  • Implementation

    The project began with a comprehensive due diligence assessment of the existing IT landscape. Based on this analysis, the requirements were defined, the target architecture was developed and the individual implementation steps were planned. This was followed by the deployment of the new network infrastructure, the configuration of the domain and the provision of the server environment, including core services and application servers.

    The next phase involved migrating the file servers, implementing Microsoft 365 and modernising the client infrastructure. The rollout was carried out through a soft launch, with continuous optimisation throughout the process. Following successful commissioning, the new IT infrastructure was handed over for productive operation.

Results

The new IT infrastructure has proven its reliability in day-to-day operations. The deployed client devices operate reliably, and the availability of IT services remains consistently high. Today, 15 servers are securely hosted in the Private Cloud, while employees benefit from a modernised client environment and a completely renewed network infrastructure.

Furthermore, Garage Gautschi AG now benefits from a professional support structure. Requests are handled efficiently and potential risks are identified at an early stage. This helps reduce downtime and ensures stable operations in the long term. The company’s IT managers also benefit from targeted IT security consulting and specific recommendations for the continuous development of their IT landscape.

Following the transition, some isolated issues arose relating to printers, Wi-Fi and performance. Thanks to the close collaboration between Garage Gautschi AG and Axians, these issues were quickly analysed and successfully resolved. The strong partnership and thorough preparation were key factors in the project’s success.

The successful migration of our entire IT infrastructure was the result of perfectly coordinated planning and was only possible thanks to the commitment and support of our entire workforce and our new IT service providers. The dedicated and highly competent project team at Axians Somnitec AG not only adhered to the schedule during the preparation phase but also throughout the entire migration weekend, ensuring that all tightly scheduled milestones were achieved on time. Thanks to the team’s flexible and solution-oriented approach, we were able to put all new hardware and software components into operation as planned on the go-live date. Bravo!
– Klaus Haussener, Project Manager, Garage Gautschi AG