This article from ComputerWorld talks about how Woolworths in Australia used Google Chrome OS and Citrix to replace their traditional Windows computers.

1. Reprinted with permission of IDG Australia, publishers of Computerworld Australia and Computerworld.com.au
Google Chrome OS devices
will account for 85 per cent
of business devices at
Woolworths at the completion
of the supermarket’s
technology transformation,
according to Woolworths
acting CIO, Damon Rees.
“We are currently trialling
several types of Chromebooks
and Chromeboxes to identify
those most suitable for our
environment,” Rees told
Computerworld Australia.
“Across our technology and
business teams, we have
around 500 Chrome devices.”
Woolworths announced a
12-month transition to Google
Apps and Chrome last April.
The migration is part of a larger
transformation program at the
Woolworths Group, said Rees.
“Overall the program will
replace a legacy Microsoft Email
platform with Google mail,
introduce richer collaboration
features using the broader
Google Apps suite, and replace a
legacy Windows XP desktop with
a far superior Web-based desktop
delivery method using Citrix.
“This will provide our users
with greater options in device
choices including ‘bring your
own device’ and Chromebooks.”
Rees reported strong
progress on the technology
initiative at Woolworths.
“To date, we have provided
25,000 support office staff with
Google Apps for Business, and
we are about to begin rolling
out a Google identity to 175,000
Store and Distribution Centre
staff, who have never before
been connected to the wider
Woolworths Group,” he said.
“Building on this, the
replacement desktop
environment is making good
progress with migration
activities for 10,000 users
preparing to get underway,
further increasing the flexibility
and mobility of our workforce.”
The Chromeboxes are being
tested for videoconferencing
CHROME REPLACES WINDOWS
AT WOOLWORTHS
Supermarket chain testing 500 Chromebooks and Chromeboxes
Adam Bender (Computerworld)18 February, 2014 14:06
CITRIX PLAYED A CRITICAL PART IN
MAKING GOOGLE SERVICES A VIABLE
SOLUTION FOR THE ENTERPRISE

2. Reprinted with permission of IDG Australia, publishers of Computerworld Australia and Computerworld.com.au
meetings, a feature recently
touted by Google.
Rees said migrating the
25,000 staff to Google
Apps in six months was
no easy task. Woolworths
worked with Google
partner Cloud Sherpas
to complete the job.
“The challenges along the way
came from the sheer number
and spread of the sites we
migrated (across Australia,
New Zealand, China and India),
and our decision to migrate
historical data from Outlook.”
Citrix played a critical part
in making Google services
a viable solution for the
enterprise, Rees said.
“Embracing a Chrome device
strategy in an enterprise setting has
been made possible with recent
advances in Citrix with its web-
based delivery technology,
enabling Woolworths to make the
transition from legacy thick client
application access to cloud like
browser based delivery,” he said.
Woolworths is one of the
first big enterprises in
Australia to take up Google
Apps and Chrome OS.
Other big deployments have
mostly been limited to
the education sector.
Frost and Sullivan analyst
Audrey William said the
supermarket’s embrace of
Google could foreshadow
greater enterprise adoption
of Chrome OS in the future.
“You’re starting to see the
momentum pick up, but it’s still
not across the board,” she said.
Rees said Woolworths’
decision to embrace Chrome
followed on from its innovation
strategy, including a major
move to the cloud.
“Overall the combination
of Google Apps, Citrix and
Chrome devices delivers on
the Woolworths technology
strategy providing our
staff with the right tools,
available on the right
device accessible from the
right location,” he said.
“Our focus is on providing the
tools for our team members
to become more engaged
with greater flexibility and
productivity in the workplace,
not to mention increased
opportunities to collaborate
and connect with team
members around the world.”
“Google, Citrix and Chrome
together meet these aims, as
well as simplifying our support
and administrative processes,
whilst simultaneously reducing
our IT infrastructure costs.”
The decision also made
good financial sense,
the acting CIO said.
“The reality is that we
wouldn’t be doing this if it
didn’t provide value for our
shareholders. “We were faced
with the end of life of our
Microsoft software, so we
needed to make a significant
investment in technology
this financial year, whatever
solution we went with.”
So far, the transition to
Google Apps and Chrome
OS has paid off, said Rees.
“We measured satisfaction
with the rollout regularly along
the way,” he said. “Within 12
weeks, our support office teams
were telling us that 42 per cent
of them were more efficient
in their day-to-day tasks.”
“This exceeded our expectations
for such a short period of time.”
ADAM BENDER COVERS
TELCO AND ENTERPRISE TECH
ISSUES FOR COMPUTERWORLD
AND IS THE AUTHOR OF A
DYSTOPIAN NOVEL ABOUT
SURVEILLANCE. FOLLOW HIM
ON TWITTER: @WatchAdam
GOOGLE, CITRIX AND CHROME TOGETHER MEET THESE
AIMS, AS WELL AS SIMPLIFYING OUR SUPPORT AND
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES, WHILST SIMULTANEOUSLY
REDUCING OUR IT INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.