ASTM cuts imaging time and boosts IT efficiency with SHI’s deployment services

When limited IT resources met rising demand, ASTM turned to SHI to streamline deployments, reduce manual work, and pave the way for modernization.

Challenge:

ASTM International, a globally recognized leader in standards development, manages an extensive network of industry stakeholders and committee-driven processes to publish and support over 13,000 standards across sectors ranging from steel to cannabis. Internally, this mission is supported by a modest yet multifaceted IT operations team tasked with everything from custom application development to third-party integrations and service desk support. With limited internal resources and increasing demands around end-user computing, imaging, and security, ASTM faced pressure to streamline its laptop deployment process, modernize its device management strategy, and reduce the operational burden on staff.

The organization had traditionally managed laptop imaging in-house, with a full-time staffer devoted to preparing devices for deployment—an approach that was unsustainable and mostly outdated. Procurement workflows, device refresh cycles, and hardware readiness usually involved manual coordination and ambiguity, creating friction for end users and slowing progress on more strategic initiatives. ASTM needed a partner that could both scale operational support and guide a long-term transformation toward zero-touch deployment and enhanced security management.

Solution:

SHI became that partner. Introduced through long-standing relationships and a strong reputation in vendor management, we quickly proved our value as both a technology reseller and a strategic advisor. Early in the engagement, SHI worked closely with ASTM’s director of operations and director of vendor management to align goals and clarify expectations. A pivotal moment came when ASTM staff visited SHI’s Integration Center in Somerset, NJ, and recognized an opportunity to offload the full imaging and device prep process.

Working through SHI’s white-glove laptop imaging services, ASTM was able to shift imaging responsibilities out of house, replacing an internal time sink with a scalable, professionally managed workflow. SHI also coordinated storage, shipping, and delivery logistics for laptops, including break/fix machines, travel-ready inspector devices with mobile cards, and premium devices for high-end users. As the relationship deepened, SHI’s account manager became an extension of the ASTM team, offering proactive insights, accelerating vendor escalations, and facilitating introductions to new technologies and trusted partners.

SHI’s robust educational offerings empowered ASTM’s operations leadership to stay current on emerging technologies, especially in security, and begin evaluating modernization initiatives like device lifecycle automation, MDM platform consolidation, and disaster recovery transformation.

Outcome:

What began as a typical reseller relationship has evolved into a strategic partnership delivering real operational gains. Our warehouse assistance has eliminated the need for ASTM’s support desk workers to spend hours – and in some cases, full days – imaging new laptops, freeing them up to contribute to other projects instead. We’ve also helped lay the groundwork for future initiatives like zero-touch provisioning through Intune.

Our ability to combine scale, technical depth, and personal attention has made us a go-to advisor not just for procurement, but for strategic IT planning. According to Greg DiPietro, ASTM’s director of vendor management, “The confidence level is significantly higher. Whenever we have something new that we’re going to introduce within the environment, the first thing that we do is talk to SHI.