Healthwatch Stockport is an independent organisation that champions the views of local residents regarding health and social care services. It gathers and analyses feedback from the community to influence and improve these services within Stockport. The organisation plays a critical role in ensuring that the voices of service users are heard, aiming to shape better health and social care experiences for everyone in the area.
Healthwatch Stockport was relying on a hosted desktop solution provided by a third-party IT partner. However, this solution presented several challenges: it was cumbersome, slow, and often proved to be expensive. Moreover, the support from their IT partner was inadequate, leading to further frustrations. The hosted desktop environment hampered productivity due to its inefficiencies, and staff frequently encountered delays when accessing essential files and applications. Despite these issues, the organisation’s email system, hosted in Microsoft 365, functioned reliably. Recognising the need for a more streamlined and cost-effective solution, Healthwatch Stockport sought an IT partner capable of delivering improved performance, better support, and greater flexibility across their IT systems.
Qlic IT proposed a comprehensive migration strategy to address Healthwatch Stockport’s IT challenges. The primary objective was to move the organisation entirely away from the cumbersome hosted desktop solution and fully integrate their operations into Microsoft 365. By doing so, Qlic IT aimed to streamline their IT infrastructure, improve performance, and reduce costs.
The migration process involved utilising SharePoint for shared file storage, which allowed Healthwatch Stockport’s team to access and collaborate on documents more efficiently and securely. To enhance device management, Qlic IT implemented Microsoft Entra ID and Intune, ensuring that all devices were managed and secured according to best practices. This provided a seamless and secure working environment for all staff, whether they were working from the office or remotely.
Post-migration, Qlic IT continues to provide comprehensive IT support to Healthwatch Stockport, overseeing all aspects of their IT estate. This ongoing support includes regular system maintenance, troubleshooting, and user assistance, ensuring that the organisation’s IT infrastructure remains robust, up-to-date, and capable of supporting their critical work in the community.
Since transitioning to Microsoft 365, Healthwatch Stockport has experienced significant improvements across their IT operations. The switch to SharePoint has made file storage and collaboration much more efficient, while Microsoft Entra ID and Intune have enhanced the security and management of devices across the organisation. Staff have reported a marked increase in productivity due to the faster, more reliable system, and the seamless integration with Microsoft 365 tools has streamlined their day-to-day activities. Additionally, the cost savings from eliminating the hosted desktop solution have allowed Healthwatch Stockport to allocate resources more effectively towards their core mission. With Qlic IT’s ongoing support, the organisation now enjoys a more flexible, responsive, and cost-effective IT environment.
- Enhanced productivity due to faster and more reliable IT systems.
- Improved file management and collaboration with the adoption of SharePoint.
- Increased security and device management through Microsoft Entra ID and Intune.
- Significant cost savings from eliminating the expensive hosted desktop solution.
- Ongoing, responsive IT support from Qlic IT, ensuring a robust and efficient IT infrastructure.
