Veolia needed to gain better control and visibility over thousands of IT assets spread across a large network of branches and subsidiaries. With ALVAO, Veolia successfully automated much of its asset tracking, simplifying inventory management, budget planning, and compliance with legal and cybersecurity requirements.
About Veolia
Veolia Czech Republic is part of the global Veolia Environnement group, a leader in water management, energy, and waste services. The Czech division operates nearly 20 subsidiary companies with a complex organizational structure and manages roughly 4,000 endpoints across the country.
The Challenge
Before implementing ALVAO, Veolia used Microsoft System Center for IT asset management. The tool did not provide accurate data or the flexibility needed for reliable decision-making and day-to-day operations.
“We wanted to replace the Microsoft product, which simply was not suitable for asset management. We needed a solution that would give us a clear overview of our hardware and software and be easy to use,” says Jan Penniger, IT Manager, Veolia Czech Republic.
Main Challenges:
- Inaccurate or duplicate records of software licenses
- Poor visibility into physical assets such as laptops and desktops
- Lack of intuitive interface and local support
- Inability to track specialized equipment such as industrial computers (PLC)
The Solution
Veolia implemented ALVAO Asset Management, which quickly proved its value thanks to its simplicity, localization, and seamless integration with Microsoft technologies.
A major advantage was ALVAO’s lightweight network agent, which autonomously updates data on endpoints across all branches. The IT team required a solution that would not slow down other systems in the network, and the ALVAO Agent delivered precisely that.
Key Benefits
A Complete Overview of IT Assets
ALVAO now serves as the central system of record for all IT assets, from standard computers to key operational components such as industrial computers (PLCs). The unified view of assets also helped the organization successfully transition to Windows 11.
“It’s been an incredible help in our daily operations. We know where everything is, who’s responsible for it, and at which branch it’s located.”
Seamless NIS2 Compliance
As an operator of critical infrastructure, Veolia must comply with NIS2 cybersecurity regulations. ALVAO provides complete visibility and traceability across all endpoints. This allows IT teams to quickly identify and mitigate security risks and stay audit-ready.
“When we receive a request from the national cybersecurity authority asking if we use a specific type of device or software, we can locate it instantly across the entire country.”
Faster Software and Hardware Audits
Veolia has dozens of locations and hundreds of software titles, so it needed a smarter way to manage compliance and inventory. ALVAO provides real-time insight into the number of installations and purchased and unused licenses. The system automatically flags inconsistencies and prompts administrators to take corrective action.
ALVAO also simplifies the legally required annual inventory audits, reducing time and effort for IT teams across all subsidiaries.
Accurate budget planning
Annual IT budgeting has become both faster and more precise. In just a few clicks, the IT manager can identify which equipment will need to be replaced or upgraded in the coming year.
“With ALVAO, we have an instant overview of how many devices will need to be replaced or upgraded next year. Nothing in the budget catches us by surprise.”
Low operational costs
Jan Penniger highlights the overall low operational costs of ALVAO compared to other asset management systems the company evaluated. ALVAO provides broad functionality without the high cost typically associated with enterprise platforms.
High flexibility
Veolia runs ALVAO on-premises, giving the IT department full control over both data and system configuration. This also makes the platform easy to customize according to current needs.
“When we need to add or change something, we can do it ourselves, and that flexibility is essential for us.”
Conclusion
Implementing ALVAO provided Veolia with accurate, accessible, and fully auditable asset records across its entire network. Its intuitive interface makes onboarding new staff effortless, while its adaptability and low total cost of ownership make it the perfect fit for a large, multi-layered organization.
“For us, the biggest advantage is the system’s reliability. It always works exactly when we need it, without any issues.“ Jan Penniger, IT Manager, Veolia Czech Republic.