Challenge.
Two IT environments, one shared goal: full control. Licensing works differently on board than on land—geographically, technically, and legally. Whether it’s Microsoft, Adobe, or VMware, every software vendor brings its own rules. And they’re constantly evolving. Add to that varying locations, usage models, and deployment types, from data centre infrastructure to mobile devices at sea. For a company like TUI Cruises, with international routes and a hybrid IT setup, licence management isn’t a side task—it’s an ongoing, complex challenge that demands transparency, expertise, and a clear view across all systems.
“To be honest, we didn’t expect our kick-off meeting to be so productive. Bechtle listened carefully, asked the right questions, and implemented our requirements straight away. Even at that early stage, it was clear they were genuinely interested in our processes. The Adobe and Veeam licence managers were in the room too, so we could resolve issues on the spot—for example, switching our on-board licences to global use. Today, thanks to Bechtle our licence management is secure, structured, and future-ready.”
Nico Ludewig, IT Service Manager, TUI Cruises GmbH
Solution.
TUI Cruises had already entrusted Bechtle with managing its Microsoft licences—and was highly satisfied with the results. So when the cruise company decided to outsource all of its licence management, Bechtle was the obvious choice: a partner that thinks proactively and knows how to turn complex licensing challenges into clear, manageable processes. At the kick-off, procurement, IT, and other key stakeholders came together. Bechtle listened, asked the right questions, and built a detailed understanding of the existing contracts, processes, and infrastructure. The goal was a secure, reliable licensing setup tailored to a global business like TUI Cruises. With Matrix42 already in use, Bechtle leveraged its Software Asset Management to capture all relevant hardware and software data—from deployed devices to current licence usage. Connectors to systems like vCenter, Active Directory, and Silverback were reviewed and cleaned up as needed to improve data accuracy. Since then, Bechtle’s vendor-certified consultants have been continuously analysing licence usage across Microsoft, Adobe, VMware and more, identifying areas for optimisation. Whether on land or at sea, TUI Cruises now runs a fully compliant, future-proof licensing setup. Thanks to a managed service contract with Bechtle, licences remain up to date, supported by regular check-ins, automated reports, health checks, and proactive alerts—keeping the company fully prepared for any vendor audit.
Business benefits.
- Centralised licence management with consistent processes for onboard, onshore, and data centre use.
- High audit readiness through regular checks and clear action plans.
- Clean data quality thanks to health checks and optimised connectors.
- Expert guidance from certified consultants with deep vendor knowledge.
- Transparent usage tracking via real-time analysis in Matrix42.
- Proactive vendor updates, filtered to fit TUI Cruises’ licensing setup.
- Compliant licence management that scales with a global fleet.