Overview

Client: Generali

Sector: Finance

Services: Modern workplace, Cloud infrastructure, Data optimisation

Technology: Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Cloud

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Generali Case Study

Generali are the 3^rd largest insurance company in the world and provide corporate insurance solutions for multinational employers. Like many other large insurance and asset management companies, they face many common digital challenges along with increasing pressures to meet the evolving demands of customers and partners.

One of Generali’s biggest digital challenges was the existence of inefficient, end user legacy systems, which are costly to run and do not provide the secure and agile working environment that the business requires.

There were also a number of outdated data management platforms and processes, with vast amounts of data being generated and stored in many disparate systems making it difficult for the end user to access and “trust” the lineage of the data.

Generali required support to create a Digital Roadmap which not only delivered effective business technology solutions to solve key business challenges but it also needed to be scalable and future proof for the business to stay competitive and continue to be lifetime partners to customers.

Challenge

Generali set out to source a business technology solutions partner who could fully support and deliver their Digital Transformation vision. Generali engaged with Sword based on their extensive experience and expertise in delivering cloud and digital projects across large, multi – national businesses. From there, Sword worked with Generali’s CIO and project team to carry out a state assessment and develop the future IT roadmap for the organisation.

Four key outcomes were agreed that were aligned to Generali’s business objectives:

• Replace legacy end user systems with modern workplace solution which could be accessed securely from anywhere
• Avoid the cost of replacing end of life equipment
• Ensure data was consistent and easily available to allow reporting and comply with future legislation
• Deliver a scalable solution

Based on these agreed outcomes, Sword began to plan the design, delivery and implementation of a solutions strategy that addressed legacy systems, IT operations, data management and modern workplace challenges.

Results

The first step in the process was to ensure that the end users had a consistent means of access and set of collaboration tools. This was achieved by deploying a Modern Workplace solution based on Microsoft 365, which offered secure access to anyone within the organisation from anywhere in the world, enabling a flexible and collaborative working environment.

Another key component was the migration of the server estate to a fully cloud based managed service through Microsoft Azure. Migrating over to the cloud meant that the business would avoid any significant end of life, hardware replacement costs and eliminate risks posed by key software becoming un-supported (SQL 2008/Windows 2008).

The final step in the process was the design and implementation of the data warehouse and optimisation program which ensured that all data was readily available, with common trusted and validated data sets, making it easy for end users to run their own reports and make efficient business decisions. The programme also helps to minimise risk within the business while still ensuring compliance with emerging regulations.

Modern workplace –

• Implemented Microsoft 365 E5
• Replaced VDI solution with HP Device as a Service Laptops
• Provided end to end change management and adoption programme

Cloud infrastructure –

• Migrated 200+ virtual servers to Microsoft Azure
• Rationalised and optimised the service
• Provided a flexible and agile IT platform
• Implemented a Managed Service to manage cost and deliver continuous improvement

Data optimisation –

• Developed a cloud native Data Warehouse within Microsoft Azure
• Enabled self service reporting the CFO planning and control team using Power BI

The Results: Generali have seen many successes through the delivery of the new Digital Strategy and are now operating more efficiently, securely and cost efficiently based on the solutions that Sword have help to design, implement and support.

Modern workplace –

• Increased collaboration across geographically dispersed teams and departments
• Enabled effective, reliable and secure working from anywhere
• Established an Evergreen Operating Strategy
• Model to adapt to future changes

Cloud infrastructure –

• Reduced the operating cost of the infrastructure platform by 35%
• Mitigated the risk associated with end of life software support and hardware

Data optimisation –

• Increased trust and confidence by improving data quality, data lineage and data governance to meet the future demands of IFRS17 regulation
• Reduced the manual time required for report preparation saving over 10-man days per month for the CFO planning and control team alone
• Platform established to facilitate the use of AI on strategic data