Case Study: Brown-Forman Reduces PC Refresh Times by 84% with PCmover Enterprise and Thunderbolt

Brown-Forman, a global leader in the beverage industry, undertook a significant overhaul of its PC refresh strategy to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and enhance the end-user experience. By integrating PCmover Enterprise with Thunderbolt transfer cables, the company reduced PC migration times by 84% from about 4 hours per transfer to just 40 minutes, achieving a seamless, scalable, and user-friendly transition process. 

Background & Challenges 

Since 2018, Brown-Forman has relied on PCmover Enterprise for lease swaps, handling 2,500 to 3,000 PC refreshes annually. Before COVID-19, the IT team performed white-glove service swaps, handling everything from imaging to user setup on a 1:1 basis. This process, however, had critical challenges: 

• User Downtime: Each swap took at least 4 hours, consuming valuable work time. 

• Resource Intensity: IT staff manually handled each migration, limiting scalability. 

• Security Concerns: A security breach during the early pandemic accelerated the need for a self-service migration model. 

• Remote Work Obstacles: Employees had to migrate devices independently, requiring a process that was both intuitive and reliable. 

Solution: PCmover Enterprise + Thunderbolt 

To modernize the process, Brown-Forman upgraded to the latest version of PCmover Enterprise, implemented a self-service migration model, and transitioned to using Thunderbolt transfer cables.

Key Upgrades & Features 

• Custom Policy File: Laplink solution architects helped create a pre-configured policy file to ensure a seamless user experience with minimal intervention. 

• Thunderbolt Transfer Cables: Data transfers of 94GB were completed in just 20 minutes, marking a dramatic improvement over prior methods that took over 2 hours.
  

• Automated Software Installation: While PCmover migrated user files, enterprise applications were auto installed in the background. 

• Remote-Friendly Deployment: Devices were shipped with all necessary guides and cables for a frictionless self-service PC refresh. 

Results & Impact 

The transition to using PCmover Enterprise with Thunderbolt led to unprecedented efficiency gains: 

✔ IT Team Efficiency: A reduced workload allows the IT department to focus on higher-value initiatives. 
✔ User Satisfaction: The process is standardized, repeatable, and easy to follow, even for non-technical employees.
✔ Global Scalability: With Thunderbolt cables widely available worldwide, international teams no longer face hardware limitations. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Dramatic Time Savings – Thunderbolt and PCmover cut migration times by over 84%.
2. Minimal IT Involvement – The self-service model empowers employees while ensuring security and consistency. 
3. Scalability & Reliability – A single, unified process works globally, improving operational efficiency. 
4. Future-Ready Infrastructure – By integrating Thunderbolt, Brown-Forman ensures long-term adaptability. 

Conclusion 

By leveraging PCmover Enterprise with Thunderbolt transfer cables, Brown-Forman transformed its PC refresh strategy into an ultra-fast, scalable, and user-friendly process. Using PCmover Enterprise, businesses can reduce IT overhead, empower employees, and improve operational efficiency by adopting cutting-edge migration solutions. 

To learn how PCmover Enterprise can simplify your PC refresh projects, visit enterprise.laplink.com to request an instant download of a free fully functional copy of PCmover Enterprise.