Transforming Defra’s Digital Workplace with Sustainable IT Solutions
Leveraging analytics, automation and refurbished laptops for an inclusive, proactive and eco-friendly digital workplace
At a glance
Outcomes
- End-to-end service ownership and measurement, ensuring the user experience of 30,000 employees across the core Department and its Arm’s Length Bodies is at the heart of all aspects of delivery
- Continuous innovation of modern technologies including AI, ML, analytics, and automation to improve efficiency and user experience for Defra’s staff
- An environmentally friendly and sustainable UK government digital workplace solution, built on circular principles and with sustainability embedded into all aspects of the service
Partnering with Atos, we’ve set new standards for government IT at DEFRA—combining reliable service, uncompromising user experience, and class-leading sustainability. Our ‘refurbished by default’ device approach, coupled with a policy of performance-based refresh, means colleagues use high-performing devices that help reduce carbon emissions and e-waste as well as delivering savings to the department. We’re proud to lead positive change in sustainable IT services.
Edd Parry
Director of Group Infrastructure and Operations,
DEFRA
Client Challenge
The United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities.
Aiming to streamline the end-user experience
Defra were looking for ways to address the impacts experienced by the 30,000 employees across the core Department and its major Arm’s Length Bodies as a result of having service desk and end-user services divided between two IT service providers. Defra wanted to enhance their employees’ digital experience to boost productivity and push the boundaries of what sustainability means to workplace services to secure the best possible performance from its personnel, all whilst addressing the need to deliver its services in a cost-efficient way, ever mindful of responsible use of the public purse.
Solution
Partnering with Atos, the end-user services contract aims to transform how Defra supports its end-users using analytics and automation to become a proactive, inclusive, and user-centered service and delivering cost savings to the department. Taking ownership of the full end-to-end service, Atos will shift left aiming to give Defra’s end users the most efficient route to resolving their issue, including proactive issue prevention.
Analyze, automate, refurbish and repeat
Atos deployed a secure and approved model that harnesses our prime offerings, from a local service desk in the UK, to global operations spread across Romania, India, and the Philippines.
Key aspects of the solution are as follows:
- A leading Sustainability solution through comprehensive service-based carbon reporting and reduction driven by sustainability dashboards, end-user best-practice tips, refurbished devices, conditioned-based refresh, and eWaste compensation solutions
- State-of-the-art digital employee experience (DEX) solution with End User Compute Analytics (EUCA) service, XLAs and Workplace Analytics solution, leveraging AI/ML, analytics and automation solutions embedded to continuously improve the end-user experience, accessibility and productivity
- A proven, optimized and cost-efficient Device Lifecycle Management (DLM) model, that maximizes the ROI of the client’s investment in modern management
Business Benefits
As a trusted sustainability-focused IT partner, Atos will deliver the most environmentally friendly and sustainable UK government digital workplace solution available, with circular economy principles embedded throughout. This includes rethinking device lifecycle refresh and highlighting the adoption of refurbished and remanufactured laptops with our partners, Circular Computing.
Why Atos
Defra are the UK custodians of our natural environment and we share their passion for delivering services with sustainability in mind. Our solution design has circularity and sustainability built into every aspect of the service, from refreshing based on performance and supplying refurbished devices all the way through to engaging with Defra Group’s workforce to encourage use of their device to minimize impact, bringing innovation and expertise through our eco-system of suppliers in order to match Defra’s ambition.
Dive Deeper
