Hitachi Energy Tackles Global IT Challenges in Massive Windows 11 Migration Across 12 Countries

Successfully executing an IT migration across multiple countries is a complex challenge, but Hitachi Energy has done just that—completing the upgrade of over 40,000 devices to Windows 11 across 12 nations. By leveraging ManagementStudio’s automation-driven platform, the global energy solutions company overcame international logistical, regulatory, and infrastructure hurdles to ensure a seamless transition.

The large-scale project, which began with a pilot phase in late 2023 and concluded in October 2024, required extensive coordination across Hitachi Energy’s geographically dispersed workforce. Each region presented its own unique IT environment, with variations in network infrastructure, security protocols, and software application requirements. ManagementStudio’s platform played a crucial role in standardizing the migration process while allowing for regional adaptability.

“Upgrading IT systems across multiple countries requires careful planning, as every region has different compliance regulations, application landscapes, and infrastructure constraints,” explained Marco Rena, Global Head of End User Computing at Hitachi Energy. “ManagementStudio enabled us to navigate these challenges by automating key aspects of compatibility assessment and deployment, ensuring that we could execute the migration efficiently and consistently across all locations.”

The migration involved the assessment of 45,335 devices across various global offices, identifying 43,568 as ready for Windows 11. The platform also confirmed compatibility for 2,330 out of 3,034 applications, ensuring that critical business software remained functional post-upgrade. By implementing a “by exception” approach—where pilot users tested the new OS before broader rollouts—Hitachi Energy was able to proactively address any region-specific issues before scaling up deployment.

One of the key challenges of the migration was managing IT operations in regions with varying internet speeds, security protocols, and local software requirements. To address this, Hitachi Energy integrated ManagementStudio with tools like Intune, Active Directory, and ServiceNow, allowing for seamless orchestration across diverse IT landscapes. Additionally, PowerBI integration provided real-time data analytics to monitor progress and address localized issues as they arose.

“The scale and complexity of this migration highlight the importance of a flexible and intelligent IT management platform,” said Justin Pickup, co-founder and business director at ManagementStudio. “Hitachi Energy’s success demonstrates that even global enterprises with highly diverse IT ecosystems can achieve rapid and efficient upgrades through automation.”

Hitachi Energy’s previous experience with ManagementStudio during its divestment from ABB in 2020 proved invaluable, providing a foundation for executing this large-scale Windows 11 migration. The success of the project underscores the importance of automation and strategic planning in overcoming the unique challenges of international IT transformation.

As businesses worldwide continue to modernize their IT infrastructure, Hitachi Energy’s approach serves as a case study in how multinational organizations can effectively navigate the complexities of large-scale digital transitions while maintaining operational continuity.