When you’re managing 335 branches, 4,000 endpoints, and multiple legacy IT systems stitched together through acquisitions, “keeping the lights on” can quickly become an Olympic event.
That’s why Huws Gray Group, the UK’s largest independent builders’ merchant, has tapped ControlUp, a global leader in Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management, to bring order—and automation—to its sprawling IT landscape.
The company, which doubled in size after its £520 million acquisition of Grafton Group Plc’s UK merchanting business in 2021, now runs 13 operating brands and supports more than 4,000 employees across the UK. Its rapid expansion also created a patchwork of systems—Citrix Workspace, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), and thousands of Windows-based physical devices—that needed a unified, proactive management layer.
Enter ControlUp ONE.
Real-Time Insight Meets Automation
According to Nathan Draper, Chief Technology Officer at Huws Gray Group, the move to ControlUp was about gaining a “single pane of glass”—a consolidated view that could handle both on-prem and cloud infrastructure.
“ControlUp gives us real-time insights 24/7, proactive alerts, and automated remediation,” Draper said. “It helps us stay ahead of issues without expanding our IT support headcount.”
That’s not just a talking point. Since deployment, the company’s 15-person IT team has shaved 40 hours of manual troubleshooting per month, thanks to automated monitoring, issue detection, and ad hoc remote fixes.
Meurig Parry, Head of IT Infrastructure, added that ControlUp has been “transformational” for supporting 2,500 VDI users and 1,700 desktop users. “From managing CPU usage to optimizing SAN storage performance, we can resolve problems before employees even notice.”
Leaner Teams, Smarter Systems
The benefits go beyond faster ticket resolution. Huws Gray now uses ControlUp’s automation to restart unresponsive apps, clean outdated user data, and manage capacity thresholds—essentially enabling IT systems to self-heal.
-
Support efficiency: Fewer tickets and faster issue resolution free the IT team for strategic work.
-
Predictive planning: Customizable thresholds alert IT when to scale resources or clean up storage.
-
Proactive monitoring: CAD and proof-of-delivery systems are tracked continuously to minimize downtime.
-
Remote visibility: The DEX scoring tool helps assess endpoint health—even for employees working via VPN or from home.
“Without ControlUp, we’d probably need a bigger IT team,” Draper admitted. “It lets us stay lean and agile while supporting a complex, distributed organization.”
A Human Partnership Behind the Tech
Beyond the technology, Huws Gray’s IT leaders pointed to ControlUp’s community-driven support—from user Slack channels to dedicated account teams—as a key differentiator. “It’s more than a vendor relationship—it’s a partnership,” Parry noted.
Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its Azure Virtual Desktop footprint, especially for GPU-intensive CAD workloads, with ControlUp continuing to monitor and optimize performance in real time.
Simon Townsend, ControlUp’s SVP of Marketing & Office of the CTO, summed it up:
“Managing IT across a dispersed organization like Huws Gray is a complicated task. Real-time DEX tools like ControlUp help simplify that complexity—delivering visibility, efficiency, and better employee experiences.”
Why It Matters
As enterprises accelerate digital consolidation after mergers or rapid growth, the case for real-time DEX visibility has never been stronger. Tools like ControlUp ONE demonstrate how automation and insight can offset the human and operational cost of complexity—a key advantage as organizations push for leaner IT teams and better user experience across hybrid environments.
Join thousands of HR leaders who rely on HRTechEdge for the latest in workforce technology, AI-driven HR solutions, and strategic insights
