Mirae Asset wanted a device capable of providing full and extensive asset management services to customers as if they are in the office, rather than a simple mobile device for outdoor sales. However, the tablet PCs available in the market tend to focus primarily on mobility and convenience, which were insufficient bases on which to provide the full services Mirae Asset wanted and, more pragmatically, need from a business point-of-view when consulting customers in the field, rather than being confined to desktop-based interactions in the office. It was in the process of driving sales force empowerment and greater customer interaction that Mirae Asset learned about Windows 8. It soon realized that, with Windows 8, it would be able to ensure business continuity regardless of location or device type, with a seamless tablet PC experience akin to that of a desktop.

The Windows 8 version of Glory KORAIL, the essential app for busy people, was officially released on February 5, 2013. First released in 2010, Glory KORAIL gained sensational popularity among smartphone users. As a result, the percentage of ticketing through mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, reached 32.5% in January 2013. While receiving enthusiastic responses from customers, KORAIL had prepared to support a new platform just in time for the launch of Windows 8, so as to speed up the era of paperless tickets. The objective was to allow more users to conveniently use the Glory KORAIL app through a wider variety of devices including desktops and notebooks, as well as smartphones and tablets.

The Association of South African University Directors of IT (ASAUDIT) has entered into a centralised licensing agreement with Microsoft South Africa to give students cost-effective access to the Microsoft Windows Professional Upgrade and Office Professional suite. This will provide all university students with access to the latest technology giving them the skills and tools they need to be ready for innovative learning and teaching environments and the job market once they graduate.

Griffith Hack is a specialist Australian intellectual property law firm. Partners wanted the firm’s staff to be able to quickly contact and consult each other on a variety of business and legal matters, wherever they were working. During 2010 and 2011, unified communications specialist Generation-e helped staff at Griffith Hack replace their PBX phone systems with Microsoft Lync Server 2010. The deployment provided all staff with presence functionality, as well as instant messaging, desktop telephony and remote video conferencing. Staff are delighted with their new communications capabilities, and ninety-seven percent have reported it ‘easy to use.’ Productivity has improved, and at the same time the firm has saved on maintenance costs and call charges so that managers forecast they will make a return on their technology investment within twelve months.

Sportswear company 2XU manufactures and retails high-performance sporting and fitness apparel worldwide. Since 2007, the company has grown at around 25 percent a year. It has about 40 distributors selling into markets around the world. By early 2011, the company’s email system was struggling with a large number of users and a high volume of graphic files sent between stores, overseas distributors and its factories in Asia. The company needed a scalable email system that could allow virtually unlimited users and provide fast, easy access to staff working remotely. 2XU upgraded to Microsoft Exchange Online, a cloud-hosted solution that is now part of the Microsoft Office 365 portfolio of communication and productivity tools. Staff can now use email far more efficiently in the office or when working remotely, and can send important files without worrying about managing mailbox size.

Wunderman is a network of digital agencies specializing in social, mobile, and relationship marketing services. The project-oriented nature of Wunderman’s work means teams, sales, and resources must be pulled in to quickly respond to RFP’s and deliver on projects. Windows Phone has helped Wunderman employees be more productive on the go with the Microsoft Office tools such as Outlook Mobile and Office Mobile already built in. The Windows Phone also delivers a great user experience that lets employees easily transition their work or conversations between the PC and the smartphone. Employees rave about the advantages of the Windows Phone over the competition on the ease of use and the seamless integration with other Microsoft products and services.

SEEK operates Australia’s most widely-used job search site, seek.com.au. To keep the site fresh, fast and functional, SEEK employs a team of 35 developers, who are engaged on numerous concurrent enhancements. As part of an upgrade to Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate with MSDN, staff at SEEK replaced a restrictive source code repository with the application lifecycle management solution, Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010. This solution comprises a variety of source code development features, including Version Control, Work Items Management, Continuous Integration and Reporting Tools. More sophisticated version control means developers can work closely with each other without disrupting each others’ code. And the ability to complete and deploy enhancements faster has helped with the company’s move to Agile Software Development.

Royal Bank of Canada, one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies and Canada’s largest bank, thoughtfully embarked on new retail store designs to bring to life a dramatically new retail banking environment, combining best-in-class retail shopping with financial services. Microsoft Surface is an integral part of this innovative customer experience.

The global electronics and engineering firm Siemens relies on a comprehensive IT infrastructure and its own commitment to innovation to help it manufacture advanced products, design complex systems, and manage its worldwide operations. The Siemens Workplace Architecture Team (SWAT) continuously evaluates new ways to enhance the workplace IT environment for Siemens employees, and has helped the company develop and implement an IT strategy that relies on advanced, efficient, and reliable Internet browser technology. In early 2011, Siemens participated in a Microsoft Technology Adoption Program for the Windows Internet Explorer 9 Internet browser, testing it for compatibility with the company’s web applications and evaluating the Internet browser’s enhanced interface. Now Siemens plans to use Internet Explorer 9 to enhance the web experience for its employees and transform its workplace.