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Case Study: Large Retailer Microsoft Windows XP Migration Project

Overview

Delivering a secure, future‑ready desktop estate while enabling new ways of working across a complex retail environment.

With nearly 150 years of trading history, this large UK retailer operates at significant scale, supporting a nationwide footprint of stores, depots and support centres with a substantial end‑user computing estate.
 
Facing the end of Microsoft Windows XP support, the organisation needed to urgently modernise its desktop environment. The existing legacy estate was unsupported, limiting the ability to deploy new applications and creating growing operational and cost risks across the business.
 
Krome Technologies was selected as a delivery partner to lead a large‑scale migration programme, upgrading thousands of devices while supporting the retailer’s wider “new ways of working” initiative. The project required careful planning, flexibility and a strong focus on user experience to minimise disruption across a highly distributed workforce.

 

View from behind a shopping trolley filled with groceries in a supermarket aisle, reminiscent of navigating the shelves during a Windows XP migration, with shoppers and products lining both sides.

“Working with Krome has exceeded our expectations and it’s been an incredible partnership. We’ve had true transparency and flexibility from the very beginning.”

Digital & Technology Programme Manager, Large UK Retailer

Nationwide Desktop Migration & Modern Workplace Enablement

Krome delivered a phased migration programme to transition the retailer’s desktop estate from Windows XP to modern, supported operating systems across stores, depots and support centres nationwide.


The project included the migration of 18,000 devices, deployment of new laptops to support increased mobility, and integration with Office 365 to enable more flexible and collaborative ways of working. A bespoke online portal was developed to allow colleagues to schedule upgrades at a time convenient to them, helping to reduce downtime and improve engagement.


Alongside the technical delivery, Krome provided on‑site support and innovative user training, including interactive “how‑to” videos, ensuring colleagues were confident using their new devices from day one. This approach drove higher adoption, reduced support calls and delivered a smoother transition across the organisation.

Key Project Highlights & Benefits

  • Migration of 18,000 desktops across 1,200 stores, 30 depots and 5 support centres
  • Fully supported, future‑proof desktop platform
  • Minimal downtime during the transition
  • Improved end‑user experience and system performance
  • Smarter, more mobile ways of working enabled
  • Reduced service calls and improved operational efficiency

    Business Profile

    A long‑established UK retail organisation with over 1,200 stores nationwide and a workforce of approximately 160,000 employees.

    Business Challenge

    With Microsoft Windows XP reaching end of life, the retailer needed to migrate a large, geographically dispersed desktop estate to supported operating systems while avoiding extended support costs and enabling new, more flexible ways of working across the business.

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