Transdev modernises employee experience with AWS Workspaces
At a glance
Transdev partnered with Cevo to replace the Citrix platform, used to deliver a critical transport planning and scheduling application, before an upcoming licence renewal deadline. Cevo migrated the application delivery environment to AWS WorkSpaces Applications, maintaining access for 80 users with no downtime during cutover, reducing licensing and infrastructure management overhead, and creating a scalable foundation for a future application upgrade.
Capabilities
Industry
Transport
About Transdev
Transdev is a leading private operator of public transport, delivering services across Australia and New Zealand. Transdev works with public transport authorities to provide safe, reliable and efficient mobility services across bus, light rail, ferry and other transport networks.
Business challenge
An approaching Citrix licence renewal deadline created an immediate commercial and operational challenge for Transdev, while vendor support requirements and a future application upgrade added further urgency.
Citrix XenApp provided 80 users with access to an important transport planning and scheduling application. The application helps planners and schedulers optimise transit networks, build efficient routes, manage vehicles, and automate staff and vehicle scheduling.
Transdev needed to move users to a new delivery environment before the licensing deadline while maintaining maximum availability. Any interruption could have prevented planning and scheduling teams from accessing the application, so the transition had to be carefully managed and completed without disrupting their work.
Transdev also wanted to avoid introducing unnecessary change to the application itself. The existing application version and backend services needed to remain in place, while the new environment had to support the testing and deployment of a future application upgrade.
Transdev required an AWS partner that could design the replacement environment, coordinate technical and business stakeholders, and manage testing, cutover and operational readiness with a strong focus on service continuity.
Solution
Cevo designed and implemented a new application delivery platform using AWS WorkSpaces Applications. Cevo retained the existing application version and backend services, allowing Transdev to replace the Citrix delivery layer without introducing unnecessary changes to the broader application environment.
Cevo worked with Transdev’s service delivery, operational and architecture teams, as well as business users, to plan the migration, validate requirements and test the new environment. During cutover, Cevo helped transition all 80 users to the AWS environment without downtime.
Aligning with Transdev’s technology environment
Cevo integrated AWS WorkSpaces Applications with Transdev’s Active Directory environment through AWS Directory Service. The team implemented single sign-on using SAML (security assertion markup language) to align access with Transdev’s existing identity approach and provide users with a familiar authentication process.
Cevo also designed the environment across multiple AWS Availability Zones to support resilience and maximise platform availability.
Establishing a simpler operating model
Cevo packaged the application, developed the required images and configured monitoring for the new environment. The team also created operational procedures covering application updates, image maintenance and ongoing platform support.
By moving the delivery layer to a fully managed AWS service, Cevo helped Transdev reduce the server management tasks associated with the previous environment, including patching, backups and Windows operating system support.
Preparing for the application upgrade
Cevo designed the new environment to support future testing and deployment of the application upgrade. By separating the delivery platform migration from the application upgrade, Cevo helped Transdev address the immediate licensing and support requirements while limiting the amount of change introduced during the project.
Outcomes
The migration enabled Transdev to replace its Citrix delivery platform while maintaining continuity for the teams responsible for planning and scheduling transport services. Key outcomes include:
- No downtime during cutover: All 80 users were redirected to the new AWS environment without an interruption to application access.
- Continuity for transport planning: Transit planners and schedulers retained access to the tools used to design routes, manage vehicles, and automate staff and vehicle scheduling.
- Reduced licensing overhead: Transdev moved away from Citrix before the license renewal deadline, avoiding the ongoing overhead.
- Simpler platform management: The managed AWS service reduces server administration tasks, including patching, backups and Windows operating system support.
- Improved resilience: The multi-Availability Zone design supports higher availability and reduces reliance on a single infrastructure location.
- Lower migration risk: Retaining the existing application and backend services limited the amount of change introduced during the transition.
- Foundation for future upgrades: The scalable AWS environment can support testing and deployment of the planned application upgrade.
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