“There can be so many variables in a migration project …. We needed to know about some of the difficulties that we might run into, and the MTC gave us that nuanced understanding.”

Eric Rees, Director of IT, Intero Real Estate ServicesIntero Real Estate Services wanted to migrate to a Google Apps messaging system but had doubts about whether the system was enterprise-ready. Intero investigated another possibility at a Microsoft Technology Center (MTC), where company decision makers saw Microsoft Exchange Online in action. Thanks to its experience at the MTC, Intero was able to make a smarter technology decision and develop an informed strategy for its migration project.Business NeedsIntero Real Estate Services is one of the premier real estate firms in northern California. The company has extended its reach across the United States and around the globe, and it continually expands its thinking when it comes to setting trends in the industry.

Because Intero is based in the heart of Silicon Valley, with its history of technological innovation, the company uses “out-of-the-box” thinking when it comes to its use of technology. For example, having outgrown its messaging system that

was based on Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 email messaging and collaboration software, Intero decided to move from a traditional email server infrastructure to a Google Apps web-based system. In early 2009, one of Intero’s franchisees went through a rebranding effort and, as part of that process, migrated its email system to Google Apps. Company executives believed that moving the whole company to a Google system would be easy and would represent Intero’s image as a trend-setting company.

Customer: Intero Real Estate Services Website: www.interorealestate.comCustomer Size: More than 1,800 real estate agentsCountry or Region: United StatesIndustry: Professional services—Real estate

Customer ProfileCupertino, California–based Intero Real Estate Services is a fast-growing real estate firm. The company prides itself on its tradition of innovation and environmentally friendly practices.

Software and Services Services

− Microsoft Technology Centers Microsoft Online Services

− Microsoft Exchange Online− Microsoft SharePoint Online

Microsoft customer successes, please visit: www.microsoft.com/casestudies

Microsoft Technology CenterCustomer Solution Case Study

Real Estate Firm Sees Technology in Action, Solidifies Strategy at Technology Center

However, there were concerns about the enterprise readiness of the Google Apps platform and whether it could offer the full, feature-rich environment that Intero agents and corporate employees had come to expect, including integration with the Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 messaging and collaboration client. “It was one thing to migrate a small team of 15 franchise users to Google Apps, but I suspected that it was another thing entirely to move the company’s more than 2,000 users,” says Eric Rees, Director of IT for Intero Real Estate Services.

Intero was not sure about the alternatives in the market or which one would make sense for the company from both a business and technology perspective.

SolutionIn November 2009, a group of Microsoft representatives met with Intero to discuss cloud strategy and products, specifically Microsoft Exchange Online, a hosted enterprise messaging solution offered through Microsoft Online Services. “There was some initial skepticism at that meeting,” recalls Rees. “Our executives are experts in real estate, not cloud computing, so it was difficult for them to understand how Exchange Online would really work. The Microsoft team was selling them on a theory—an intangible thing.”

The Microsoft team invited Intero to a Strategy Briefing at the Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in Mountain View, California, to illustrate the uses and benefits of Exchange Online. As part of the engagement, the group from Intero—a combination of business executives and technical staff—visited the Envisioning Center, where MTC architects demonstrated how various Microsoft solutions worked in real-world scenarios. The discussion went beyond Exchange Online, showing how other technologies, such as Microsoft SharePoint Online and Microsoft Office Live Meeting, could help Intero

increase efficiency and, ultimately, sell more houses.

Another facet of the Strategy Briefing included a technical discussion about the scope of the company’s proposed migration to Exchange Online. “Our environment’s mix of personal computing environments was bound to cause complications in the move to cloud computing,” says Rees. “So we appreciated having Microsoft illustrate our options and help us draw up a migration strategy. We got answers to a lot of our questions and also heard about the Microsoft road map and how it fit into our five-year plan.”

As of May 2010, Intero is in the process of a companywide migration to Exchange Online, having decided that it makes more sense for the company than Google Apps. Intero expects to complete its migration by July 2010 and also anticipates that it will adopt SharePoint Online as a centralized document repository by the end of 2010.

BenefitsAt the MTC, Intero gained first-hand knowledge and experience of Microsoft technologies, which helped the company make decisions about its internal technology road map and gain a greater level of technical understanding. “For me, the MTC was like a chance to test-drive a car and get my hands on the technology,” says Rees. “For our executives, the MTC presented an opportunity to see the full benefits that Microsoft technologies could offer our company.” Visiting the MTC resulted in:

More informed decisions. Through the MTC, Intero gained exposure to a number of technologies, which clarified the company’s needs and helped executives make a smarter business decision. “The MTC gave our executives a chance to witness the full potential of Exchange Online and related technologies, and it also helped convey a sense

of the ‘cool’ factor of cloud computing,” says Rees. “Seeing the technology at work really got their mental wheels turning as to how multiple Microsoft offerings could benefit Intero.”

Higher degree of confidence. The company’s MTC experience helped its leaders confidently set a new strategic direction. “We came away with peace of mind about what we were getting into with cloud computing. What I learned at the MTC calmed my nerves and gave me the reassurance that I need to be able to, in turn, keep reassuring the company that we’re heading down the right path,” says Rees. “In fact, our executives are now so comfortable with our technology decision that they’re highlighting it in presentations to agents and potential franchisees.”

Greater project understanding. The company increased its knowledge of cloud computing and the considerations involved with moving forward with the migration. “There can be so many variables in a migration project, especially with a complex, heterogeneous environment like ours,” says Rees. “We needed to know about some of the difficulties that we might run into, and the MTC gave us that nuanced understanding.”

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.Document published June 2010