How Blaud’s Connect & Go Service Helped Local Authority of Goeree-Overflakkee Securely Roll Out 450 New Smartphones 

In January 2020, the local authority of Goeree-Overflakkee purchased hundreds of smartphones via Coolblue, intending to manage them using Microsoft Intune. But with limited internal IT capacity and a tight rollout schedule, the local authority of Goeree-Overflakkee quickly realised the deployment required more than in-house resources. Coordinating logistics, configuring devices, and supporting hundreds of users would require a dedicated partner with both the expertise and hands-on experience to get it right. 

To bridge that gap and ensure a successful rollout, the local authority chose Blaud’s Connect & Go service, a structured, hands-on approach to secure and user-friendly device onboarding. “This was a great opportunity to support a public sector organisation in modernising its mobile workplace,” says Jesper Schmidt, Sales Director at Blaud. “Our goal was to ensure that every employee could start working securely and effectively from day one. We provided clear, step-by-step guidance, ensured compliance was built in from the start, and created a structured onboarding experience to make the transition smooth for everyone involved.” 

The project kicked off with a comprehensive inventory and discovery phase, led by Blaud’s dedicated Connect & Go Project Manager. The team worked closely with the local authority to assess the current device landscape, identify user groups and personas, and analyse typical mobile workflows. This groundwork was essential to ensure that the rollout strategy aligned with the real-world needs of employees across all departments, from administrative staff to field workers. 

Based on these insights, Blaud created a tailored project roadmap, including a detailed rollout schedule and a user-friendly onboarding guide. The plan balanced operational efficiency with user support, making sure the deployment would run smoothly without compromising security or user experience. 

“After several in-depth conversations with the local authority of Goeree-Overflakkee, we agreed that classroom-style rollout sessions, limited to fifteen employees per session, would be the most cost-effective and impactful way to familiarise users with their new devices,” explains Jesper Schmidt, Sales Director at Blaud. “It allowed us to offer hands-on guidance and ensure every participant walked away ready to use their smartphone.” 

Each session was led by two Connect & Go specialists, who walked users through the process and answered questions on the spot. Employees could register for their preferred timeslot using Blaud’s planning tool, while additional days were scheduled to support anyone who couldn’t attend the first round. 

Martin Bout, the local authority’s interim project manager, highlights the importance of strong coordination behind the scenes. “We had to align internally across departments and make sure each rollout location was properly prepared. While we trusted Blaud to lead the execution, it was essential that the approach reflected our values and operational culture, and that required close collaboration throughout.”