Case Study
Empowering a leading electronic component distributor with robust application delivery
At a glance
A challenging system for software requests plagued employees at Avnet, Inc., one of the world’s largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology. The Fortune 500 company sought a way to simplify the process, often caused employees to wait days for software requests to be fulfilled. Flexera’s powerful and agile App Portal, now called App Broker, streamlined the procedure and put all applications in an easy-to-browse virtual store. This freed time for support staff to work on company-wide strategic initiatives.
The challenge
Nearly every computer in the U.S. contains a component from Avnet. This Fortune 500 company is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems in the world. Avnet employs more than 12,000 people in locations around the globe.
One-off software requests generated by the thousands from Avnet employees were consuming valuable time for general staff and support Avnet’s IT teams. Employees waited up to two days for requests to be processed, approved and assigned.
One-off software requests generated by thousands of Avnet employees were consuming valuable time for both general staff and IT support teams. Employees waited up to two days for requests to be processed, approved and assigned. Support staff installed applications remotely by preparing and sending CDs, with some installations requiring in- person visits to the requester’s office. This inefficient manual process was hampering productivity and driving up IT costs.
The solution
Flexera’s App Broker streamlined and automated the process for application requests
App Broker enabled IT staff to streamline and automate the process for requesting desktop applications by approving requests and delivering applications directly to user desktops. Instead of working with cumbersome forms, employees now browse an app store and select the applications they need. The result is higher productivity for general employees and IT staff.
App Broker sets in motion an automated workflow that obtains required approvals and hands off the request to Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager for installation.
“It’s saving us valuable time,” said Mary McDonald, Avnet desktop services supervisor. “We have significantly reduced desktop visits for software installations, and we no longer have to spend time sending CDs. By increasing the efficiency around this process, our team has more time to focus on our other strategic software initiatives.”
It’s saving us valuable time ... our team has more time to focus on our other strategic software initiatives.
Mary McDonald Desktop services supervisor, Avnet
The results
App Broker eliminated repetitious manual installation, helped empower employees
With App Broker, Avnet’s IT team has reduced wait times for application delivery from days to minutes. The technical staff no longer spends long hours on repetitive installation tasks, enabling them to focus on strategic initiatives. App Broker also enabled Avnet’s IT department to help fulfill the corporate mandate of empowering employees with self-service tools.
Wait times for software
requests reduced from days to minutes
Increased productivity across the enterprise;
IT professionals now able to
focus on strategic initiatives
