ARP & Avans University of Applied Sciences.
Avans University of Applied Sciences smoothly rolls out 2,000 Windows 11 devices with additional services provided by Bechtle and ARP.
Breda and Den Bosch
3,500
2,000, of which 1,750 have already been deployed
About Avans University of Applied Sciences.
Avans is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands, with around 30,000 students and 3,500 staff across Breda, Den Bosch, Tilburg and Roosendaal. The university is firmly rooted in the Brabant region and closely connected to the local professional landscape and is known for its strong educational quality and welcoming atmosphere, consistently earning recognition both within and beyond the region.
The challenge.
Ruud Habraken, Education Account Manager at Bechtle and Avans’ dedicated contact, explains: “Avans was quick to point out that it needed additional services—such as device preparation, registration, distribution and redeployment. What’s more, the IT department increasingly wanted to take on more of a coordinating role.”
Steven Koeken, part of the Device Services Team within the Information & Technology Services department, adds: “We’ve been working with Bechtle since 2014, and our third contract began in 2022. The scope of our collaboration has evolved over time and we’re increasingly relying on additional services, in this case from ARP’s Services Hub.”
This broader scope has led to successful initiatives, including the replacement of 2,700 monitors across multiple locations and the delivery of refurbished hardware. Steven: “The end of Windows 10 support in October 2025 triggered a major new project. We wanted to migrate devices to Windows 11 quickly, without disrupting day-to-day operations.”
Avans typically replaces 800 to 900 laptops per year, but in 2025, that cycle had to be doubled to accelerate the migration. “Upgrading devices takes more time than replacing them, and after consulting with Bechtle, we decided to increase the number of device replacements beyond our usual cycle, followed by on-site upgrades for the remaining Windows 10 systems.”
This meant distributing 1,750 new laptops to Avans staff—a significant logistical challenge. The question was: how do you manage a project of this scale efficiently, without creating bottlenecks for the IT department, disrupting daily operations, or interfering with teaching?
To meet this challenge, Avans turned to ARP’s Services Hub for additional support—a notable step forward in the partnership, as Avans usually handles device distribution in-house to maintain full control. Ruud: “It was Avans’ trust in Bechtle that ultimately made it possible to hand over the entire project.”
Online planning tool and hands-on support.
This project called for close collaboration and short communication lines. Once Bechtle supplied the devices, the Services Hub in Maastricht took care of unpacking, labelling, pre-provisioning, imaging and CMDB registration. Mike Schiepers, project manager at ARP, explains: “These are exactly the IT tasks that eat up valuable time. Tasks Avans was able to outsource to us. We removed the factory packaging and delivered a project box with everything ready to go. That not only saved time but also reduced on-site waste.”
Avans’ employees used an online planning tool to schedule a convenient time to pick up their laptop, with collection slots available for two weeks in Breda and another two weeks in Den Bosch. “ARP colleagues with an IT background were on hand during collection to provide practical support, for example answering questions about backups and OneDrive,” says Steven. “End users said the process went very smoothly and it felt like they were being supported by their own IT team.”
Solution highlights.
- Bechtle supplied 2,000 laptops along with additional services—preparation, registration, planning and distribution—from our Services Hub in Maastricht.
- Older devices were given a new lease of life, teaching continued without disruption, and end users responded positively to the planning process and the swap initiative.
- Around 1,750 laptops were rolled out in just three and a half weeks, with the remainder kept in stock for Avans.
Approach and outcomes.
In just under four weeks—despite a few public holidays—we achieved:
- The delivery of 2,000 new laptops and laptop bags,
- The successful rollout of more than 1,750 devices, with the remainder kept in stock,
- And all without disrupting teaching or business operations.
Steven: “The whole operation ran seamlessly thanks to a single, coordinated approach—Bechtle and the ARP Services Hub taking the lead, clear roles and smooth communication. The planning tool eliminated queues and endless email chains, while the returned laptops were given a second life through the Services Hub.”
And without this approach? Steven laughs: “We’d have been working on it much longer. We just don’t have enough staff to manage that kind of workload. Bechtle’s approach really took the pressure off.”
Why Avans chose Bechtle and ARP.
Avans appreciated that Bechtle and ARP took the lead without adding layers that slowed decisions. A visit to the Services Hub in Maastricht gave them a clear picture of the entire process and boosted confidence. “The Services Hub runs projects like this all the time and we saw that experience and expertise in action.”
The collaboration between Avans and Bechtle goes back many years and began with supplying hardware and standard services, such as delivering devices ready for deployment. Because the partnership with Bechtle has always run so smoothly, Avans placed its trust in Bechtle to provide an increasing range of additional services through ARP’s Services Hub.
“This project reminded me how strong our partnership is,” says Steven. “We know exactly what we can expect from each other.” Ruud agrees: “Avans’ requirements are clear. Bechtle brings the right people together fast, turning ideas into a concrete plan.” Mike adds: “Our Services Hub supports customers with all kinds of services, both in-house and on-site—from Project Management to Service Delivery Management. Together, we identify the right services for each organisation—just as we did for Avans.”
Curious about the services offered by the Services Hub? Discover them here
Ongoing collaboration.
So, what’s next? The partnership is still going strong. In October 2025, a new wave of replacements was scheduled with 700 devices upgraded to Windows 11 at a pace of two hours per device, using the same project team. Steven: “This was more nerve-racking for us than rolling out new devices. Our reliance on IT infrastructure makes these projects critical, but with the lessons and experience from the first round, we had complete confidence—and rightly so. Everything went smoothly.”
The key takeaway? “Timing is everything. Don’t rush because you have to—make a move when you’re ready and with the right IT partners at your side. Collaboration was key to making this project a success. Bechtle managed and monitored the entire process, the ARP Services Hub delivered the services with IT specialists, and we ensured standards and exceptions were met. Working this way made a major project feel manageable,” Steven concludes.
Is your organisation also looking for additional services?
Want to learn more about Avans University of Applied Sciences’ success story? On Tuesday, 18 November, Steven will share deeper insights into this project during the anniversary edition of Bechtle NEXT.
ARP can provide your organisation with a full range of supplementary services—from project preparation to after care, allowing you to focus on your core responsibilities without worrying about the technology that supports them. Just like you, we like to think out of the box, tackling challenges head-on, with creativity and commitment.
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