Summary
A global AEC firm adopted Recast Application Workspace to gain real‑time control over software delivery while continuing its Microsoft Intune migration, including use of Autopilot. Results: faster installs, fewer tickets, and a new KPI (“speed to deliver applications”) that the team now consistently exceeds. As one admin put it, “We’ve been blown away by it.”
Industry: Architecture, engineering, and design
Footprint: North America; distributed offices
Environment: Windows endpoints; SCCM to Intune/co‑management; small macOS footprint
Use cases: Day‑1 onboarding with Autopilot, post‑provisioning delivery, rapid troubleshooting, packaging/updates
Autopilot reality
- Limited control. Autopilot provides little control over install order or how app types are mixed, and real-world builds often need more than the Autopilot V2 cap of 10 required apps.
- Day‑1 pragmatism. Many orgs ship only a baseline (e.g., Microsoft 365 and security tools) in Autopilot and finish the rest later.
How Application Workspace helps
Application Workspace complements Intune and redefines application management. Control applications from day one by enhancing device enrollment, while using a single platform to automate packaging and expand your app catalog without losing efficiency or time.
- Step into persona-based control, even at device enrollment. Expand control of application deployments during enrollment, including Autopilot/ESP. Ensure every device gets the right apps for the personas you define—automatically and at scale.
- Control install behavior start to finish. Ensure the right install sequence, regain the ability to model your own pre- and post-actions, and tackle dependencies with ease, even across mixed Win32/LOB scenarios.
- Versioned, durable, automated packaging. Centralized workflows reduce “duct‑tape” scripts and make handoffs simple. Automate repetitive packages with options from the Setup Store to limit touch time and alleviate security concerns.
- Immediate, admin‑controlled actions. Set up triggers for installs to line up with lunch breaks or maintenance windows—no waiting on syncs.
- Unified catalog and self‑service. A curated catalog gives users a single place to get what they need without tickets; IT governs access and lifecycle.
Implementation highlights
- Controlled enrollment. Application Workspace integrates right at enrollment, giving you controls many are familiar with from Task Sequencing in SCCM.
- Targeted change windows. Support teams can time app installs at low‑impact moments using Application Workspace’s refresh and logoff triggers.
- Operational instrumentation. The company leadership and IT team track “speed to deliver applications” and have seen those scores rise significantly with Application Workspace.
Results and impact
- Faster onboarding. New hires reach productivity sooner with a device that is ready for them to begin their work.
- Near‑real‑time delivery. Admins push software in minutes, not hours—ideal for urgent app packaging escalations and rapid time-to-action improvements.
- Security readiness. Faster rollouts shorten exposure windows for app vulnerabilities, with CVE data built into the Application Workspace interface.
- Fewer tickets. “The less you hear about it, the more successful it is.” Ticket volume dropped compared to prior portals.
- Higher bar, met. Deployment speed and success now factor into reviews; leadership set a high bar—and the IT team met it with Application Workspace.