Enexis delivers ‘the best migration ever’

A smooth transition to Windows 11 and working in the cloud — that was Enexis’s wish. Together with Cegeka, they set out to achieve nothing less than “the best migration ever.” The result: a fully data-driven, high-quality migration with complete control at every step. Enexis and Cegeka successfully created a modern workplace environment designed for the future. 

As one of the largest regional grid operators in the Netherlands, Enexis manages over 5.2 million gas and electricity connections across five provinces. With over 5,700 employees and 1,500 external specialists, the company plays a key role in driving the energy transition. Enexis is also pioneering innovative solutions that support a sustainable, CO₂-neutral future for the Netherlands. From climate-neutral neighborhoods to green gas initiatives.

Enexis is one of the largest regional grid operators in the Netherlands, responsible for building and managing more than 5.2 million gas and electricity connections across five provinces. With over 5,700 employees and 1,500 external specialists, Enexis plays a vital role in the energy transition. The company also develops innovative solutions that contribute to a sustainable and CO₂-neutral future for the Netherlands, such as climate-neutral neighborhoods and green gas.

Giving employees peace of mind in a hectic time

Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025, meaning no more security updates, bug fixes, or technical assistance. “So, we had to move to Windows 11,” explains Frank Wolters, Product Owner Digital Workplace at Enexis. “Enexis is right in the middle of the energy transition. That’s why it was important to minimize disruption for our employees and give them peace of mind. Not a last-minute migration, but a well-planned approach that even allowed employees to complete the migration from home. An approach designed to deliver the best migration ever.”

“At the same time, we wanted to modernize workplace management to make it more secure, faster, and flexible,” Wolters continues. “That’s why we moved our IT infrastructure from on-premises to the cloud, migrating from SCCM to Microsoft Intune.”

A major challenge: migrating more than 8,000 workplaces without disrupting operations. Wolters explains: “We have many different user profiles, from office staff to field technicians. That diversity required a tailored approach for each profile, with a strong focus on adoption and ease of use. For example, in our operations center we replaced all laptops at once, while in customer service we migrated laptops team by team.” 

“We absolutely wanted to avoid any impact on our operations, especially in the middle of the energy transition.”
Frank Wolters, Product Owner Digital Workplace at Enexis

A no-nonsense approach with the user in mind

Enexis once again chose to partner with Cegeka. “We’ve been working with Cegeka for more than 30 years. When I bring their people on board, I know I’m getting quality, knowledge, and expertise,” says Wolters. “Cegeka is a no-nonsense organization with experienced professionals who truly become part of your team. For two years, Cegeka’s experts worked alongside our Digital Workplace team. They took the lead in planning and actively contributed to both decision-making and execution. That close collaboration allowed us to continuously improve and move quickly.” 

The project team carried out the migration in phases, guided by insights from the Migration Monitor, a Power BI tool developed by Cegeka that provided real-time organizational data during the project. “With the monitor, we could track in detail which applications were ready for Windows 11 and which workplaces were prepared for migration,” Wolters explains. “We could also see which users needed extra support, since feedback collected through Microsoft Forms was integrated directly into the monitor.” 

The team also gained immediate insight into incidents and user feedback through the Migration Monitor. This allowed them to make quick adjustments and continuously improve. Wolters explains: “Enexis is a complex company with many departments. By working with a relatively small team and using smart tools like the Migration Monitor, we kept the process simple and truly data-driven.” 

“Cegeka is a no-nonsense organization with experienced people who really become part of your team.”
Frank Wolters, Product Owner Digital Workplace at Enexis

Targeted migration to Windows 11

End users were guided through the migration in an accessible way, using instruction videos, manuals, and communication channels such as narrowcasting. “Wolters: ‘We wanted to communicate very clearly about what employees could expect and what was required of them, so there would be no surprises during or after the migration. This included informing the 1,700 colleagues whose laptops weren’t compatible with Windows 11 and had to be replaced. These colleagues came to the office for the swap.’”

For everyone else, the migration was carried out almost entirely at home, minimizing disruption. Only a small group of employees opted for on-site support. “Otherwise, all technicians would have had to return to a location and lose their laptops for a few hours,” Wolters explains. “Now, colleagues could simply power up their laptops after work and log into the new environment the next day using a step-by-step guide. That saved an enormous amount of time.” 

“In addition, we created tailored approaches for specific groups such as field technicians and customer service staff, designed around their work context,” he adds. “This targeted approach proved essential for keeping user satisfaction high.” 

“We rolled out Windows 11 in a fully controlled way, through a process that felt tailor-made for Enexis. It was truly a best-in-class approach.”
Frank Wolters, Product Owner Digital Workplace at Enexis

A migration that exceeded expectations

In total, more than 8,300 workplaces were successfully migrated to Windows 11 and Intune, with zero escalations. Wolters: “It went beyond expectations. In previous projects with other vendors, we sometimes faced disruptions. That really undermined colleagues’ trust and made them hesitant about the migration.”

That’s why it was especially important for Enexis to approach this project thoroughly. “As a result, there were no escalations to senior management,” he says. “And even better, users rated this migration an average of 8 out of 10. A clear improvement compared to our previous large-scale migration, which scored a 7.”

Up to date and ready for the future

The migration has significantly reduced the number of incidents reported within Enexis. “We’ve also improved system stability and performance,” Wolters adds. “Now, we can optimize all of our processes. For example, security updates are now applied automatically and continuously.”

The project also allowed Enexis to eliminate backlogs that had built up during the pandemic. “The team replaced outdated laptops without TPM chips, and now all devices meet the requirements for Windows 11,” he explains. “In addition, they reduced the number of applications from 240 to 200, and phased out old, less secure functional accounts.” 

The new environment also delivers innovative benefits. Features like facial recognition for login enhance user convenience, and Enexis is now able to leverage Microsoft Copilot. “We’re experimenting with AI,” Wolters says. “There’s a huge demand for it across the organization, and license requests are pouring in. So, the move to Windows 11 and Microsoft Intune isn’t the finish line for Enexis, it’s a solid foundation for further innovation.” 

“The entire journey flowed as naturally as running water. Everything just worked.”
Frank Wolters, Product Owner Digital Workplace at Enexis