Large-Scale Mobile Device Refresh for Avanti West Coast
We undertook a large-scale refresh of Avanti West Coast’s mobile estate, replacing legacy devices with new models across both frontline and head office teams. The programme was delivered in two phases across 33 site visits, with additional ad-hoc visits to support final-stage activities and ensure full coverage.
In total, 2,014 mobile phones were successfully rolled out, with a strong focus on maintaining business-as-usual operations throughout delivery.
Approach
The rollout required careful planning and coordination to ensure minimal disruption, particularly for frontline staff who needed to be temporarily taken off shift to complete device swaps.
A key success factor was the established working relationship between the delivery team and Avanti West Coast. This enabled effective collaboration, quick access to site contacts, and a strong understanding of operational requirements across locations.
Significant upfront preparation was completed prior to each deployment, including:
- Ensuring device readiness and availability of new handset models
- Migration of apps and user data
- Configuration and testing of MFA setup
- Validation of device functionality prior to handover
- Planning for frontline coverage and site-specific requirements, including protective screen considerations
This preparation ensured a smooth in-person deployment experience and reduced user downtime.
For any remaining users who were unable to complete swaps during scheduled visits, support was made available through a dedicated Tech Hub. This provided a walk-up service for ongoing support, reinforcing the team’s role as an extension of Avanti’s internal IT function.
Results
The rollout was completed with minimal impact to operational activity, particularly across frontline teams, where continuity of service was maintained throughout.
- 2,014 mobile phones deployed
- 33 site visits completed, plus additional mop-up visits where required
- 96% uptake rate among frontline staff
- 75% uptake rate among HQ staff
- 92% overall uptake
Client Feedback
Julie King, Project Manager at Avanti West Coast, supported the delivery and commented on Spherica’s EUC support:
“What a fantastic achievement… I know how hard you have all worked to achieve this. I’ve witnessed it on several sites, and the feedback has been amazing.
Well done to everyone involved for delivering another great project.”
Jemma Jones, Project Manager at Avanti commented:
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you and well done to everyone involved. You’ve each played a part in what has been a sizable piece of work and the way the team came together to deliver it has been brilliant.
The project was delivered with minimal disruption, and feedback from users has been really positive. The move to new, updated devices is already making a difference to productivity and user experience.
Thanks again to everyone involved, this has been a genuine team effort and something to be proud of.”
Outcome
The project successfully delivered a full refresh of Avanti West Coast’s mobile estate with strong user adoption and minimal operational disruption.
The combination of detailed preparation, strong stakeholder engagement, and established working relationships enabled a smooth transition from legacy devices to new hardware. The introduction of ongoing support via Spherica’s Tech Hub further strengthened the long-term user experience and ensured continued accessibility to IT support beyond the rollout phase.
Summary
This engagement demonstrated the value of close collaboration, proactive planning, and embedded support models in delivering large-scale device transformation programmes. By operating as an extension of Avanti West Coast’s internal teams, the delivery approach ensured both operational continuity and a positive user experience throughout the rollout.
