How Stadler Built a Modern Cloud Workplace with Callista
Stadler has been building trains for over 80 years and is provider of mobility solutions in rail vehicle construction, service and signalling technology.
Behind all that engineering, there is a huge amount of digital collaboration: documents, investment requests, event registrations, news, and data that needs to move reliably every single day. At some point, the old way of doing things just wasn’t enough anymore. The on-premise SharePoint environment had done its job, but the business needed more flexibility, better security and a foundation for new digital workflows. That is the moment Callista stepped in.
From “it works” to “this actually helps us work”
Stadler’s starting point will sound very familiar to a lot of companies. Collaboration tools had grown organically over time. SharePoint was in place, but running on-premise limited what the team could build on top of it.
At the same time, expectations inside the company were rising. Teams wanted modern apps, additional workflows and faster approvals. Management needed clear governance and security. IT had to deliver all that without disrupting day to day operations.
The conclusion was obvious: it was time to move collaboration into the cloud, but in a controlled and purposeful way.
A clear goal: a secure, cloud-based workplace
Together, Stadler and Callista migrated collaboration services to the cloud, expanded what was possible, and at the same time increased operational efficiency and data protection.
This wasn’t just a “lift and shift” project. The idea was to build a workplace that could support future business apps, more workflows and automation without being redesigned every year. It needed to be secure, compliant and easy to manage.
Designing the new environment
Callista’s experts started with the basics: planning the migration to SharePoint Online and engineering the new landscape. The focus was on minimizing disruption for users while setting up an architecture that could grow with Stadler’s needs.
At the same time, Callista introduced clear governance guidelines. Security and privacy were built in from the start. Access controls, data protection policies and governance processes were aligned with Stadler’s requirements as a global industrial company operating in a dynamic environment.
Turning a platform into a workplace
Once SharePoint Online was in place, the real transformation began. The environment was no longer just cloud storage - it evolved into a strategic digital workplace.
Using Power Apps and Power Automate, Callista and Stadler began to digitize everyday processes that had previously been handled manually. Investment requests, event registrations and various internal bookings moved into guided, app-like experiences.
Employees can now submit a request through a simple interface. Behind the scenes, Power Automate takes care of routing, approvals, notifications and logging. Internal communication improved as well. News from different parts of the business is gathered and presented in a more structured way, making it easier for employees to stay informed without digging through email archives.
Even data flows became smarter. Time transfers to the data warehouse are now handled through the platform, improving accuracy and reducing the friction between operational work and reporting.
“Callista is one of our trusted partners to build a modern workplace based on latest technology.”
Christian Autschbach, Head of Modern Workplace & Collaboration
Impact Delievered
The benefits of the new workplace show up on several levels.
On the collaboration side, employees are working in a modern, cloud-based environment that feels more consistent and intuitive. Files, news, workflows and apps live in one ecosystem instead of being scattered across different tools.
From an operational point of view, formerly manual processes have become faster and more reliable. Requests are easier to track and responsibilities are clearer. That directly translates into saved time and less frustration for staff.
For IT and management, security and governance are easier to enforce. Policies are applied centrally, and the platform is aligned with Stadler’s privacy standards from day one. That means fewer surprises and a much more controlled growth of new solutions over time.
The project also demonstrated the value of Callista’s delivery model. A combined Swiss and Serbian team was able to join on short notice and start delivering tangible results quickly, balancing proximity, expertise and cost efficiency.
Looking ahead
The migration to cloud SharePoint and the introduction of Power Platform solutions were not the end of the story. They created a foundation.
Stadler now has a secure, scalable, cloud-based workplace that can absorb new processes, apps and integrations as the business keeps evolving. The company can respond faster to internal needs, support new ways of working and keep data under control at the same time.
In other words, the workplace finally matches the trains: modern, reliable and built for the long run.
