BOBST SA improves global collaboration and resilience with Microsoft AVD

BOBST’s legacy virtual desktop system, centralized in Switzerland, created latency issues for remote users, limited flexibility, and posed a single point of failure. With a growing global workforce and partners, these constraints hindered productivity and increased costs.

"We searched for a solution that could help us provide better latency, improve our resilience and also be cost-effective. Those were the main drivers that pushed us to move to Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop," explains Emerson Andrade, IT Infrastructure Lead at BOBST. The cloud-native platform provided a modern, resilient environment that not only solved technical challenges but also opened new doors for scalable, secure global collaboration.

Smart implementation with strategic partnerships

To ensure a successful Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) rollout, BOBST partnered with Microsoft and Accenture. Microsoft provided architectural guidance and best practices tailored to BOBST’s Azure environment, while Accenture led the technical execution alongside Microsoft’s Migration Factory. A key innovation was consolidating all desktop environments into a single golden image, simplifying patching and reducing complexity. Andrade explains, "We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel, as Microsoft provided best practices. Thereby, Microsoft helped us implement things the smart way, and Accenture made it happen."

Built-in security and global resilience

Using Microsoft Entra ID and multifactor authentication via Microsoft Authenticator, BOBST unified its identity and access management strategy. The company retired its older tools and implemented a single, cohesive framework across both physical and virtual environments. Endpoint security was extended using Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Intune allowed the application of consistent policies across all devices, including those accessing AVD. 

AVD deployment in Europe and APAC ensured high availability, reduced latency, and enabled seamless failover, supporting global business continuity. As Andrade notes, “Microsoft’s integrated stack—from the Microsoft Identity Platform to Microsoft Defender—helped us unify security and simplify operations.”

Operational gains and ecosystem empowerment

BOBST saw immediate benefits from the shift to AVD. The organization avoided a costly hardware refresh and retired over 350 legacy virtual desktops. Partners, particularly external collaborators, no longer needed BOBST-issued laptops. Instead, they now access company resources securely from their own devices, whether Mac or PC—driving down both logistical complexity and environmental impact.

The flexible access model also created a more inclusive ecosystem. "We leverage AVD for externals to provide them with access to our internal resources and help our business thrive. With this new solution, which is highly appreciated by the users, we create a more inclusive working environment beyond our company walls, empowering internal and external members of our ecosystem to achieve business success," says Laurent Teissier, Head of IT Platforms at BOBST SA.

Monthly onboarding of 30–40 new users has demonstrated consistent user satisfaction. Andrade adds, "We don’t see complaints. And when people don’t complain, it means things are working well.”

Shaping a future-ready digital strategy

BOBST continues its cloud transformation by migrating more workloads to Microsoft Azure, reducing its on-premises footprint. The next step includes extending Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) to PLM tools, once optimal conditions for 3D performance are met.

Reflecting on the rollout, Andrade emphasizes the importance of early alignment, “Clear decisions upfront accelerated everything else.” Key success factors included following best practices, clear internal communication, and helping local teams understand the value of change. “It’s empowering beyond our walls—partners now access services more easily,” he adds. “Microsoft’s technology and guidance have made us more secure, flexible, and future-ready.”

Andrade continues, “The AVD deployment marks a major milestone in BOBST’s digital journey, paving the way for continued innovation in packaging. Microsoft’s technology and guidance have helped us become more secure, more flexible, and more future-ready.”

Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, BOBST is a global leader in packaging and label manufacturing equipment and services. The company is committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability.