Ignia helps Cash Converters trade up to Windows 10 in just five weeks

Perth-based Microsoft partner Ignia has helped migrate Cash Converters stores to Windows 10 and Azure.

The landmark project saw the Windows 10 conversion completed in just five weeks for all Cash Converters' Australian stores – totalling more than 140 locations.

"Ignia worked with Cash Converters during their national rollout of Windows 10 to retail stores. Leveraging their investment in System Center Configuration Manager, Cash Converters found the in-place upgrade simple and easy to implement and are now utilising the new security and functional features available within Windows 10 cloud OS," said Ignia director Josh Boys.

Cash Converters chief information officer Glen Fee said that having all devices on the same operating systems was a major motivator in making the leap.

"When you are looking at an ecosystem where you have the same operating system on your desktop, tablet and phone, as well as running Office 365, it makes the management of IT smoother and more efficient," he said. "We’ve had extremely positive feedback from staff."

The value of the project was not disclosed.

Ignia is a nominee for the Excellence in Cloud Platform and Excellence in Technology Solutions Specialisation categories for the upcoming Microsoft Australia Partner Awards, to be announced at the end of this month.

It is also a two-time CRN Fast50 company, having last year grown 60 percent to reach revenue of $12.2 million. The 2016 CRN Fast50 is now open for entries. 

POS system goes Azure

Having switched over to the cloud-based Office 365 in 2012, the pawnbroking merchant also sought to move its point-of-sale system off-premises– a shift that would see remarkable efficiencies by taking away the systems burden from individual stores.

"Instead of having multiple people working to address issues locally, we have been able to manage the application from a central location. It’s allowed our local staff to add value at a store level in better ways," Fee said.

Microsoft stated that previously setting up a new store would require a brand new network deployment and software installations, as well as ongoing patching and data management.

"One of the greatest benefits we’ve seen from this deployment is the ability to take issues with POS away from the store level," said Fee. "When we looked at the cost and the added efficiencies of software upgrades and patching, capability for backup and all the other capabilities of a data centre provided as-a-service, it really was a no brainer for us."

Cash Converters has more than 700 stores internationally, spread across 21 countries. With over 200 shops in the United Kingdom alone, the Azure conversion has taken place there as well as the United Arab Emirates.

The Perth-headquartered chain was founded in 1984 and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.