Controlling Azure Costs: Navigatum and SoftwareOne enable agility for a leading strata firm

Investing to work smarter and scale faster

One of New South Wales’s most forward-thinking strata management firms had a clear ambition: scale efficiently, operate securely, and give its teams the tools to perform at their best. Achieving that meant rethinking how its IT environment was managed. Together with their IT services partner, Navigatum, the firm took a step forward to modernize its Azure environment and shift to a co-managed IT model. This strategic investment decision unlocked greater flexibility, cost control, and confidence.

The customer’s internal IT team already had a strong handle on day-to-day operations, but it needed a partner who could help it streamline its Azure environment and scale more effectively. Together with Navigatum, it envisioned a co-managed model that gave the internal team greater control, visibility, and cost efficiency without requiring an increase in headcount. At the heart of this transformation was Nerdio, a powerful platform designed to optimize Azure Virtual Desktop environments.

Delivering technical transformation without disruption

The team faced a unique challenge: the existing infrastructure was complex and built by an outgoing MSP. Rather than disrupt business continuity or raise red flags, Navigatum and SoftwareOne took a careful, behind-the-scenes approach. They reverse-engineered the legacy setup to identify and design for a more agile, cost effective environment build in Azure.

The implementation of Nerdio and use of this solution for the migration to the new Azure environment was completed within six weeks and went live without a hitch. Immediately, the benefits became clear. Onboarding time for new staff dropped from over a month to just 1.5 weeks. Previous common issues, such as profile lockouts and inconsistent access, became rare. The IT team now had the tools and flexibility to scale resources based on user demand, thanks to dynamic server management.

Measurable impact, tangible business value

Navigatum led the implementation with SoftwareOne acting as an extended arm of support, offering licensing expertise, training, technical escalation, and commercial guidance.

The transformation was strategic. Together, Navigatum and SoftwareOne delivered tangible business value that continues to compound over time. Some key outcomes include:

• AUD 24,000/month in Azure infrastructure savings, with a further AUD 10,000 targeted 
• Onboarding time for new staff reduced from 3-5 weeks to just 1.5 weeks 
• Microsoft Secure Score improved to 63%, up from a much lower baseline 
• Enabled a 4-day work week trial, with 65% of employees participating 
• Substantial drop in system issues like user profile lockouts and downtime 
• 35 users onboarded in a short timeframe, proving the scalability of the new setup.

These results reflect a modern workplace model where IT isn’t just a support function but a strategic enabler of growth. Importantly, the joint effort reflects what SoftwareOne calls distribution done differently: not just selling a solution, but walking the journey alongside partners like Navigatum to enable meaningful change.

One of the reasons this project succeeded was the collaborative dynamic between all parties. Navigatum provided local, hands-on leadership and design. SoftwareOne brought in-depth product knowledge, a safety net of support, and commercial insight. The customer’s internal team, meanwhile, stayed empowered and involved throughout, building confidence and capability.

SoftwareOne’s role as distributor extended beyond product access. It played a crucial advisory role, helping Navigatum and the customer make informed choices around licensing, platform optimisation, and long-term IT planning. This kind of partnership is SoftwareOne’s hallmark: sitting on the partner’s side of the table to co-create solutions that genuinely work.