How this manufacturing company expanded its Apple footprint and found a trusted partner in the process

An international manufacturing company wanted to expand use of Mac devices among employees, adding 650 laptops.

But it needed a better way to get new devices into employees’ hands. The company had been disappointed by its hardware partners and the procurement process countless times before. It suffered order fulfillment and deployment issues, and bounced from one partner to the next, struggling to find one that could get the job done.

In addition, the company wanted to test different Mac models to ensure the laptop it ultimately selected was the right tool for the job.

To facilitate a better deployment progression and ensure a smooth rollout, the organization started purchasing and installing Jamf independently. However, one of the biggest problems standing in the way of a successful Mac expansion was trust.

The CIO had to find a partner that could get the devices the company needed, streamline the deployment process, address all concerns during the engagement, and overcome any hiccups along the way.

SHI answered the call and quickly established itself as a reliable and trusted partner.

Tackling the test units

Getting the testing right was the first step.

The manufacturing company wanted to test units with specific configurations. While Apple has its own demo pool for this, it didn’t offer configure-to-order (CTO) evaluation units, only standard models. The organization also knew it didn’t want to keep the test units after the trial period.

SHI tackled this situation by leveraging its own custom demo pool. SHI configured the units to the company’s specifications and sent them out for testing.

When the manufacturing company completed its trial, SHI provided buyback services, retrieving the devices through its asset recovery team while offering the customer a credit on the tested units.

Support from start to finish

In addition to testing the different specs required, the manufacturing company wanted support, both from a technical and financial standpoint.

The organization had been using AppleCare+ support. However, given the purchase volume, SHI suggested Apple Care for Enterprise (ACE). ACE provides more robust support, including a dedicated technical account manager, 24/7 one-hour response, onsite repair service, and a device replacement pool.

From previous conversations, SHI realized the manufacturing company was interested in leasing the devices. So, SHI worked with Apple Financial Services on a proposal that would allow the company to affordably upgrade its hardware, with 0% financing.

The importance of communication

Once the manufacturing company was happy with the devices and ready to move forward, another wrench was thrown in: Apple released new MacBook Pro models.

Under different circumstances, this might have been a complicated roadblock. But not here.

Over the course of the months-long testing phase, SHI had earned the company’s trust through transparency and constant communication. So, when this hiccup arose, the company knew SHI would have its best interests in mind.

SHI maintained active lines of communication, presenting the company with updated models and pricing information once the new production information (NPI) was released.

Thanks to the established relationship, when SHI showed the company it would receive better machines at a comparable price, the company was onboard and moved forward with the purchase of 650 new MacBooks, including 15-inch MacBook Pros and 13-inch MacBook Airs.

Ready-to-use solution without the fuss

SHI prepared for a zero-touch deployment by setting up the manufacturing company’s Apple Business Manager details ahead of time. This way, the corporate apps and mobile device management (MDM) policies were already configured on each user’s device, and all employees had to do when they received them was connect to the network.

The fulfillment and zero-touch deployment of these 650 devices was smooth, seamless, and successful, and has led to discussions on how SHI’s buyback program and dedicated Apple team can help the organization refresh the next 3,000 Macs.

The manufacturing company wanted to work with a partner it could trust. One that would listen to and understand its needs, offer multiple suggestions for how to get the job done, and then streamline the process.

And that’s exactly what it got.