Eurostar Transforms High-Speed Travel With MobileIron

To read the full case study, please visit: https://www.mobileiron.com/en/customers/case-studies/eurostar.

"As a railway company, our workforce is mobile by nature, but security is a top priority," said Andy Simmonds, Head of IT Infrastructure and Operations, Eurostar. "MobileIron empowers us to focus on passenger safety and keeping the trains running on time. MobileIron gives us the confidence that our mobile data is secure." 

Building a strategic mobile future

With train drivers and managers constantly travelling between countries, Eurostar understood that mobility could unlock major time savings for its most mobile employees. Eurostar needed a strategic EMM partner that could grow as its deployment matured.

"In the beginning, we wanted to give our people quality mobile devices that would enable them to access sensitive corporate information. Security was paramount," said Simmonds. "We evaluated the leading EMM vendors against strict selection criteria. MobileIron was the best choice for us because of its flexibility and strong security."

As Eurostar's mobility initiative matured, it turned to Qolcom as its implementation partner. Qolcom is a wireless and enterprise mobility specialist and the UK partner for the Global Enterprise Mobility Alliance (GEMA). Qolcom was selected based on its deep knowledge and consultancy expertise with MobileIron.

Today, Eurostar relies on MobileIron to secure and manage corporate-owned and BYOD devices, as well as to deploy custom and third-party applications. The apps and devices touch critical data everyday, so the ability to remotely wipe data or applications from a lost or stolen device is key.

Apps help trains run faster

Before Eurostar launched its mobility initiative, train drivers and train managers carried suitcases full of paper documentation during journeys. Today, they securely access digital documentation from iPads secured by MobileIron. This fulfils regulatory requirements and reduces paper waste, but the most important benefit for Eurostar is that it massively reduces the amount of time drivers spend on administrative work. They are freed up to focus on what they do best.

Eurostar also deployed an app through the MobileIron platform that train managers use to view train maintenance, including faults, repairs, and other issues. Train managers and depot staff have real-time information at their fingertips, so maintenance staff can streamline repairs.

"In the past, managers would need to wait until they got to the next station to send fault or repair information back to our depot by email or fax. This can now be done in real-time on mobile devices. Removing this latency helps keep everything running on time," said Simmonds.

Wandera and MobileIron protect against mobile bill shock

One of the biggest mobile challenges facing Eurostar was the cost of mobile roaming. As employees on trains crossed borders, mobile costs skyrocketed. The company turned to Wandera, a mobile data security and management solution offering a range of benefits, including policy controls to reduce roaming costs. The MobileIron platform was used to deploy and manage Wandera and to prevent employees from removing the app. Eurostar took this opportunity to inform employees about how the use of certain services abroad can result in high costs. Mobile roaming costs dropped 50 percent as a result of these two tactics.    

"We're a train company. Our people have to be able to roam affordably. Removing or reducing mobile access was not an option. With Wandera and MobileIron, bill shock is a thing of the past."

About MobileIron

MobileIron provides the secure foundation for companies around the world to transform into Mobile First organizations. For more information, please visit www.mobileiron.com.

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