On Track to Innovation: How a Railway Association Future-Proofed Their IT Ecosystem
Overview
Every year, this professional railway association diligently works with its large membership base to develop knowledge and recommend best practices in the industry.
The association wanted a modernized IT ecosystem that adequately supported the complex data and assets related to its publications, educational events, student chapters and other activities. They recognized the necessity of a massive migration project to achieve this goal.
I was impressed with designDATA the most. They offered the solution I needed but didn’t push me to start with the project. The sales representative was very low-key and explained how they could make things easier for me.
Our Promise
After researching and meeting designDATA at the 2016 American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Technology Conference, the association’s team knew they had found the right partner.
RELIABLE IT INFRASTRUCTURE
Before partnering with designDATA, the association's systems, including data, email, website and management tools, were all hosted on-premises. This setup led to severe outages, paralyzing the office and cutting off access to crucial data and email services. designDATA was pivotal in transitioning their systems and data from on-premises servers to a secure cloud environment, backed by a comprehensive disaster recovery and data backup plan. Additionally, the association's internet connectivity received a significant boost through collaborative effort with designDATA to transition to a more reliable ISP, ensuring sustained productivity.
OPTIMIZED WORK ENVIRONMENT
Managing many ongoing projects required a meticulous and intentional approach to the association’s migration efforts, aiming for long-term stability and ease of operations. designDATA’s exemplary project management skills were instrumental, resulting in a tailored project plan that addressed the organization’s unique needs and concerns. The consistent, knowledgeable and thoughtful communication from designDATA ensured the creation of a streamlined tech ecosystem, simplifying daily tasks for the staff and enhancing their ability to fulfill the association’s central mission.
ENHANCED CLOUD-BASED COLLABORATION
designDATA improved the association’s communication and collaborative efforts by upgrading their Microsoft 365 licensing, unlocking access to the entire suite of tools and services. The organization's domain was efficiently migrated to Microsoft Azure and their data moved to Microsoft Teams. This shift provided staff with unparalleled flexibility, enabling access to resources from any internet-connected location and ensuring consistently high productivity, even when on the move.
designDATA was great from the beginning, and we had a great engagement overall. There was nothing I would change.
Looking Forward
designDATA played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the railway association’s technological landscape, guiding them through a comprehensive migration project that has significantly bolstered the vitality of their tech environment. This transformative partnership has enabled the organization to reach its strategic objectives and ushered in a new era of operational excellence. Today, the association thrives in a modern digital workspace with seamless communication, robust collaboration and heightened productivity.
