Heneways builds a cloud-first workforce with Windows 365 and Windows 365 Link

Delays and uncertainty are facts of life in global freight. Customers rely on timely communication and clear updates to keep their shipments moving. South Africa-based Heneways Freight Services has spent fifty years managing that complexity, supporting clients from offices around the world. But as the company expanded, aging systems started to struggle with the demands of a growing business, often slowing staff and making it harder to keep information flowing. It also needed a more consistent security posture for a workforce spread across many locations. Heneways set out to modernize operations and preserve the level of service customers expect.

Technology that matches the pace of business

Heneways found a solution in a modern Microsoft ecosystem, adopting Windows 365 and Windows 365 Link managed through Microsoft Intune. This combination replaced the company's constrained infrastructure with a scalable cloud environment. With Windows 365 Link, employees now get instant, secure access to their personal Windows 365 Cloud PCs, creating a consistent and reliable experience built for a global team.

The rollout prioritized teams where mobility and consistency matter most, placing Windows 365 Link devices with warehouse logisticians, customer-facing sales staff, and finance personnel who collaborate across floors. “Windows 365 Link handles challenging environments with ease,” says JJ Milner, CEO and Chief Architect at Global Micro and a Heneways partner. “We have users in logistics, on forklifts, and in trucks. Staff can walk up to any station, sign in into their Windows 365 Cloud PC, and move to their next task without interruption.” This consistency is vital for operations staff who move between the warehouse floor and their desks.

For employees, the change shows up in their daily work. When staff move between tasks or locations, their Cloud PC is always waiting for them. Caleb Buchel, Logistics Specialist at Heneways describes the immediate difference: “Windows 365 Link is so easy to use; it’s just plug-and-play. You log in and there’s your PC. If you log out and log in at a different place, it’s the same PC that you left.” The company also adopted Universal Print for secure, driverless printing from any Cloud PC, simplifying printer access across locations and reducing the need for IT support. Universal Print also provides usage data that helps IT understand printing habits and promote more efficient printing practices.

The technology has also reshaped management’s outlook. Cherene Cromhout, International Forwarding Manager at Heneways notes the change in her team’s morale and productivity. “Windows 365 gives me comfort knowing that my staff can function from the time they come in to the time they log off,” she says. “Whether they’re in vehicles, traveling, at a warehouse, or at a customer site, they can do their jobs. It helps me know that when they come back, it’s not a case of ‘I couldn’t do this,’ but ‘this is what we accomplished.’” This reliable access helps Heneways maintain its service-oriented culture.

From infrastructure burden to competitive edge

Heneways successfully deployed Windows 365 to more than half of the company’s users, with nearly half of that group now on Windows 365 Link, in a smooth, disruption-free weekend rollout. The result: a 60% reduction in IT support tickets, allowing staff to focus on innovation rather than troubleshooting. The company is now expanding this cloud PC environment to more teams as part of its broader modernization plan.

This new reliability is a direct competitive advantage. “Windows 365 Link has a much longer duty cycle than a laptop, explains Milner. “We expect these devices to be in the field for five to seven years, which delivers a significant cost saving.” This predictability comes from a system staff can depend on. “We’re at an 80% to 90% reduction in user experience tickets,” he adds. “The technology just works.”

With that reliability in place, Heneways is now preparing to bring AI into its operations. The company is exploring Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure Document Intelligence, and Flowgear with MCP connectors that allow Copilot to trigger logistics workflows across platforms like CargoWise and ShipShape. The company sees AI as a path to stronger operational resilience through faster exception handling, cleaner documentation, and fewer touchpoints for staff.

For Cromhout, the path forward is clear. “Windows 365 provides the tools we need to compete,” she concludes. “You can’t expect good output from your staff without them. We want Heneways to remain up there with the global competitors, and this brings out the best in what we can do.”

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