Odda is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.
The 1,616-square kilometer municipality is the 42th largest by area in Norway, with a population of 7,025.
Odda reached out to Google and received free G Suite licenses for a limited period of time to perform a test, and find out if Google’s tools are what the municipality needs to succeed.
“The choice had to be Google because of the future-oriented, easy-to-use functionality and intuitive user interface, superior cost to value ratio, stable and functional cloud services, super easy license structure, and little training needs.”
The work started in October of 2016. Despite the fact that it was just a test with a limited number of users involved, Avalon Solutions approached it in the same way as every regular project.
Avalon’s experts sat down with the Odda team to discuss the metrics, to be used for evaluating the pilot. The project was launched in November 2016 and was scheduled to end after four months, in the end of February 2017.
The most important part of the partner’s role is listening and addressing the needs and wishes we have as a customer. Together with the skills and experience from previous projects that Avalon Solutions managed, they were able to give a great approach and solutions in change management, configuration, migration, and training.
Andreas Sigvaldsen, CIO at Odda Kommune
The pilot’s success allowed Odda to tick all the boxes on their IT wish list.
Google just works and it’s available all the time, everywhere. When I go to meetings I share and stream presentations directly from my phone. The computer stays at the office. Videoconferencing is now done on the move with Hangouts! It doesn’t get easier than that.
Andreas Sigvaldsen, CIO at Odda Kommune
The decision was made: Odda Kommune was going Google.
“Our meetings start with going through the agenda instead of fixing technical issues with sound or video,” says Sigvaldsen. “Employees increasingly use video conferencing and chat, and still demand new applications. The number of travel days has been reduced.”
In October 2017 it was announced that Avalon Solutions won and will continue work on Odda’s transformation.
Avalon Solutions’ experts that successfully walked the municipality through the pilot sat again with Odda’s IT team to create a plan for a full G Suite rollout.
Odda’s G Suite rollout is scheduled for completion at the beginning of March 2018.
Shirin Dalin
Project Manager at Avalon Solutions
We want to build and implement new cooperation solutions for our citizens, business, and our employees.
Andreas Sigvaldsen
CIO at Odda Kommune