Customer Stories
20
%
Reduction in total IT budget through Azure cost optimization.
75
%
Lower compute spend by aligning AVD usage to active working hours.
2
hr
Deployment completed through Azure Marketplace.
Ready to get started?
Start nowChallenge
- Microsoft’s native AVD tools lacked automation, visibility, and control, limiting scalability and efficiency.
- Rising Azure compute usage created unsustainable infrastructure costs across 1,300 virtual machines.
- The company needed to enable inclusive, device-agnostic access for a hybrid workforce without sacrificing reliability or oversight.
Solution
- Deployed Nerdio Manager via Azure Marketplace to automate provisioning, monitoring, and system updates, delivering full visibility and operational control.
- Implemented Auto-Scaling and real-time cost dashboards to right-size resources, align usage with business hours, and reduce Azure compute costs by 75%.
- Enabled an inclusive, cloud-first workspace where employees securely access AVD from any device, improving flexibility and user experience companywide.
Creating an inclusive, flexible, and cost-efficient
digital workplace with AVD
For Waterman Group, a leading engineering and environmental consultancy, enabling a modern, accessible workforce wasn’t just a nice-to-have.
It was a strategic imperative. The company needed to empower employees with access to applications from anywhere, on any device, without compromising control or driving up costs. But Microsoft’s native AVD management tools lacked the flexibility, visibility, and simplicity required to support that vision.
That’s when Group IT Director Stuart Worrow took a bold step.
Discovering Nerdio on the Azure Marketplace, Stuart made the call to bring in an unknown but promising platform to support Waterman’s transformation. It was a pivotal decision— one that would ultimately reshape how the organization works.
Simplicity at scale, automation by design
Deploying Nerdio took just a few clicks. From discovery to deployment, the process took less than two hours via the Azure Marketplace. “You push a few buttons, and two hours later, you have Nerdio,” Stuart shared. Even for a director not buried in technical tasks, the simplicity was immediately impactful.
Nerdio simplified everything from user provisioning to system updates, freeing up IT time and ensuring operational resilience. Its powerful automation allowed Stuart’s team to spin up 100 hosts with a click—no scripting, no complex setup, and no downtime. Compared to Microsoft’s limited native tooling, Nerdio offered an experience that was not only more robust, but also significantly more reliable.
Real-time cost dashboards made it easy to monitor and control spending across host pools. By aligning AVD consumption with actual working hours, Waterman Group slashed unnecessary compute time and reduced Azure costs by 75%. With nearly 1,300 virtual machines in use, that translated to an annual savings of 20% of its IT budget.
With a few simple scripts and centralized monitoring for user profile storage (FSLogix), system health, and versioning, Nerdio gave Waterman’s IT team full visibility and control. Stuart could easily track what was failing, confirm what was working well, and ensure system reliability without constant oversight. Version control tools gave the team confidence in platform stability, helping them avoid early-release bugs and maintain uptime.
Beyond IT: driving inclusivity and redefining the workplace
Stuart’s choice to implement Nerdio wasn’t just a technical one—it was a cultural shift.
“One of my goals was to make IT more inclusive,” Stuart explained. “People shouldn’t have to carry around heavy laptops. Nerdio gave us a cloud-first platform that anyone can use, anywhere, on any device.”
The timing couldn’t have been better. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Waterman’s cloud-first setup became mission-critical, enabling staff to work seamlessly from home or the office—without the cost burden of always-on compute.
Today, employees log in from lightweight devices and experience consistent performance across environments. IT frustrations with application installs, laptop logistics, and onboarding headaches are gone. In their place is a streamlined, agile, and empowering user experience.
“Making that kind of organizational change is hard work. I put my neck on the line for Nerdio. But moving to a flexible, inclusive, and cloud-first model has been one of the most impactful decisions we’ve made— and something I’m proud of.”
By removing access barriers and simplifying remote work, Nerdio helped Waterman build a digital culture where employees can thrive regardless of location or device.
“We’ve flipped the script,” Stuart added. “What used to frustrate everyone is now a platform that works for everyone. Nerdio made that possible—it’s intuitive, accessible, and fully under our control.”
Building connections and shaping the future
Stuart continues to invest in Nerdio—not just as a customer, but as a contributor to its evolution. At NerdioCon 2025, he connected with peers and product teams, offering feedback to shape future innovations.
“It’s not just technical sessions—it’s about building the right relationships. Nerdio listens. And it’s growing in the right direction.”
Even after five years with the platform, Stuart still considers the original decision a no-brainer.
“Today, we’re more agile, more efficient, and more connected because of Nerdio.”
