Windows 7 Migration - New Approach, Easier Transition

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As the Director of Post Sales and Services here at InstallFree, I have the opportunity to work with our customers on their deployment of our product. In this blog post, I would like to share with you some of the lessons learned from these deployments, and also how we developed a new approach based on these lessons.

We call this new approach 7Bridge, which is both a product and a methodology. But before I explain what this is all about, let me properly set the stage.

Our customers say that InstallFree brings significant value to the table. Oftentimes, they say that they can only grasp the full value of the product after using it for a period of time. Here are few of the things we hear all the time:

1. Windows 7 compatibility problems with key enterprise applications such as Siebel, SAS, and JD Edwards are resolved through the use of the InstallFree application virtualization technology.
2. Delivering applications to end users is easier, faster and more flexible. The resulting environment is also much more secure.
3. InstallFree allows a much better control over the application inventory and the ability to easily determine what is available for end-users to use.
4. It is now possible to lock down end points without hearing complaints about it from users all day long.
5. Applications are roaming with the end-users, which allow both the users and the IT department more flexibility.

You have to remember, the great value that InstallFree brings represents a big transformation in the way customers package and manage their applications. And like any other transformation, it involves a significant undertaking such as acquiring application encapsulation know-how and spending time encapsulating applications. It also requires the adoption of new processes around managing applications. As a result, we see more rapid success with customers that adopt a phased approach, such as the one I outline below:

1. Start with only few apps – pick applications that demonstrate the biggest value by solving a critical problem. For example: a handful of applications that are slowing your Windows 7 migration project due to compatibility problems.
2. Let us help – we will work with you to encapsulate these initials applications. This will not only accelerate the project, but also enable you to learn how to do this in the future.
3. Go quick and wide - very quickly deploy these handful of applications to a large number of devices to demonstrate the value right from start.

We see great results with customers that adopt this phased approach, and they usually report very similar benefits:

1. Fast adoption and smooth rollout.
2. The value of the solution to their organizations becomes clear very quickly. The important apps are working which provides good visibility for management.
3. The solution is working in a stable way and there is time to expand to more applications and use cases in a planned and organized manner.

We have spent much time thinking about these lessons learned. We wanted to come out with the best way we can build our product and processes to improve our customers’ experience. We want all of our customers to experience the success of a truly fast and seamless deployment. This is why we created 7Bridge -- a product that is built to make the adoption easier and takes under consideration the elements discussed above. Here is what 7Bridge is:

1. It’s the same good old InstallFree Bridge technology that is built to support a pre-defined set of your most crucial applications. The idea is that you focus on what matters the most and once everything is up and running and there is a need for the full Bridge solution, you can easily upgrade.
2. We work together with you to package your initial applications. As a matter of fact, we will package them for you so you will be able to focus on the more important things at first.
3. We give you the option to upgrade to the full InstallFree Bridge solution once your initial deployment is up and running and your end-users and management are seeing the benefits.

Click here to learn more about InstallFree 7bridge.

Thanks for reading!

Gilad Hertanu

Director of Post Sales and Services