In 2024, A.E. Smith was formally acquired by its management from Downer Group after more than a century as part of the larger organisation.
As part of this transition, the business was required to build its own fully secure IT environment, completely independent from Downer, and operational from day 1.
A.E. Smith had just three months to complete this transition, a very tight timeline for such a large organisation.
Over 250 users across multiple states had to be migrated, with new hardware deployed, core systems rebuilt, and a modern, secure infrastructure implemented from scratch. The deadline was non-negotiable as delays would result in significant financial penalties for A.E. Smith.
Problem
The migration project presented significant technical and organisational challenges that far exceeded a typical transition.
This project involved standing up a completely new IT environment for A.E. Smith in just three months. This ambitious timeline was driven by the terms of the management buyout from Downer Group.
One of the major complexities was that we had no direct access to Downer’s systems, which meant we couldn’t use standard migration tools to isolate A.E. Smith data, and alternatives had to be developed.
The size of the migration, over 250 users in total, added to the complexity of the project. All users needed to be moved to a new system, with new laptops, security, accounts, and support in one go, all while maintaining business continuity.
The workforce was geographically dispersed, with offices in all states, and devices had to be delivered and rolled out in a structured, coordinated way.
As we started the project, we uncovered an additional level of complexity as internally, not everyone supported the transition. Some users resisted the change, preferring the perceived stability of Downer. This required careful stakeholder management and communication to minimise disruption.
From Fuse’s perspective, the urgency and scope of the project made it both significant and strategic, prompting the mobilisation of key resources to ensure long-term support.
Results
We migrated over 250 users to the new IT environment within the three-month deadline, including email, data, user identities, devices, security, and office connectivity. The cutover happened without major disruption, allowing staff to continue working without interruption.
The new environment was built with a security-first approach. We deployed our proprietary solution Fuse365, which aligns with Essential 8 (100% of level 2 and 90% of level 3). This gives the organisation the ability to manage risk and protect its data following the strongest cybersecurity framework available in Australia and to create a pathway to a future ISO 27001 compliance.
The solution used cloud-native tools like Microsoft Intune and Autopilot for device management, making it easier to scale and maintain. All laptops were provisioned and deployed using modern practices, reducing manual setup and ongoing support effort.
The transition included optimised Microsoft licensing, adapted to the different user types across the organisation. This reduced waste and gave A.E. Smith better control over their software spend.
The rollout was carefully structured, especially for users who were hesitant about the change. By engaging early and delivering devices through planned sessions, the project team was able to reduce resistance and ensure staff were supported from day one.
A managed services agreement was also implemented to provide ongoing support and technical guidance.
A true partnership
A key part of this project’s success was how we managed people. From end-users to executive stakeholders and vendors, clear communication was essential to build trust and to ensure the success of the project.
We maintained a consistent cadence of project meetings with A.E. Smith’s directors and key stakeholders. This ensured that we could swiftly remove any roadblocks arising with Downer, stay in alignment and focused on the project delivery. A.E. Smith were actively involved throughout. Their team didn’t just “hand it over” and wait. The result was a trusted partnership and a smooth transition.
At a user level, we build a structured handover process, to ensure every user received their new devices and were instructed on the next steps. This reduced confusion and supported adoption/
We worked with key partners to deliver this project, and they were all essential pieces of the project.
This project was recognised with the 2025 Tech Partner Impact Awards in the Business Transformation category This award celebrates technology projects that deliver significant, measurable impact for clients. The recognition highlights the successful delivery we achieved for AE Smith.
