BIG SAFETY is a UK-based workwear supplier specialising in high-quality safety boots, trousers, and protective apparel for commercial and industrial customers.

With a growing customer base and evolving operational needs, their team required reliable, modern systems to support communication, fulfilment, and day-to-day management.

Initially, BIG SAFETY approached POLARIS to support their transition from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365, aiming to consolidate platforms, streamline collaboration, and improve productivity across the business.

The goal was a smooth, zero-disruption migration that would future-proof their IT environment and lay the groundwork for further growth.

Before engaging POLARIS, the team at BIG SAFETY were self-managing their IT setup, relying on a combination of Google Workspace for email and file storage, alongside Microsoft 365 licenses for desktop applications. This fragmented approach led to rising costs, inconsistent user experience, and frequent inefficiencies when switching between platforms.

The dual-platform setup created confusion for staff, reduced productivity, and made onboarding and collaboration more difficult than it needed to be. Without centralised IT support or a unified system, BIG SAFETY was also exposed to long-term management, security, and scalability risks, all of which became more pressing as the business grew.

During the initial consultation, we reviewed their current IT setup and identified a fragmented user experience caused by a dual-platform approach. While some team members preferred Google Workspace, others favoured Microsoft 365, leading to inefficiencies and confusion.

After discussing use cases and future requirements, BIG SAFETY decided to consolidate their environment under Microsoft 365 as the primary platform, simplifying operations, reducing cost, and enabling better collaboration.

By combining strategic planning with clear communication, we helped BIG SAFETY transition their IT environment with no downtime, and positioned them to grow with reliable support in place.

POLARIS delivered a comprehensive IT setup that included:

• Conducting a full audit of users, data, and systems across both platforms.
• Migrating email and file storage from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365.
• Ensuring seamless access to mailboxes and shared resources with zero disruption.
• Standardising Microsoft 365 Business licensing across all users.
• Deploying Cisco Webroot for endpoint antivirus protection.
• Implementing Microsoft 365 Backup for Email, SharePoint, and OneDrive Documents.
• Transitioning the business to a fully managed IT support agreement.

The full migration from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365, including email, file storage, licensing, antivirus, and backup, was completed within just three weeks.

The transition was executed with zero operational disruption, and all users were fully onboarded to the new platform with minimal training or support required. BIG SAFETY’s systems are now centralised, protected, and fully supported under a Managed IT Service agreement.

The engagement delivered immediate and ongoing benefits for BIG SAFETY, including:

• A simplified and unified user experience across all devices.
• Clear reduction in licensing cost duplication.
• A single point of contact for support and strategic IT planning.
• Improved performance, collaboration, and data protection.
• A trusted long-term partner invested in their growth.