By Jorina Choy (Singapore, May 5 - 11, Asia Computer Weekly)
Here's a Singapore example of how companies are achieving real business benefits by working with IBM and our Business Partners. This reference on TianPo Jewellery, told through the media with a huge dose of credibility, demonstrates how IBM's technology and business expertise, products and services are helping companies of all sizes leverage the opportunity of an on demand world.
On demand
TianPo chose an iSeries server, rather than a lower-end PC server, for several reasons, one being the machine's on/off capacity upgrades on demand feature. This capability lets customers activate processors when they need them, and turn them off when they do not, and get charged for the number of days the processors are used. "We can buy the processing power we need and then sell it back to IBM when we don't need it anymore," Foong added.
Background
Singapore jewellery retailer TianPo Jewellery desires to build a name for itself in the international jewellery market -- with information technology to pave the way.
In the time that TianPo's business grew into a nine-retail-outlet chain hiring 140 employees, its general manager Rosalind Foong felt that the legacy infrastructure would no longer support the company's expansion plan. Each store has a point-of-sale system running AccPac accounting software but these systems are not integrated.
Business need
Foong wanted an IT system that integrates all the retail shops, to analyse and track customer information such as preferences and spending power, so that TianPo can improve its customer service.
She also wanted a system from which she can obtain up-to-date inventory information, and share inventory lists with TianPo's overseas partners. The eventual aim is to reduce inventory volume and costs. Foong eventually opted for the Intentia Movex Fashion software with the IBM eServer iSeries 800.
A cost-effective, easy-to-implement solution
The Intentia suite includes CRM, supply chain execution, enterprise management, and retail management modules. The iSeries 800 comes with Universal Database, OS/400 OS, and security features.
To check product availability for a customer, a TianPo staff used to have to call every retail outlet. But with the new Intentia-IBM system, a staff just has to click some buttons on the in-store terminal and she would be able to find out the stock levels in all shops, even drill down to details like diamond certification, and inform the customer immediately.
"We won't have to stock so many diamonds in each store anymore," said Foong. "This will minimise our holding stock levels."
Foong said TianPo chose an iSeries server, rather than a lower-end PC server, for several reasons, one being the machine's on/off capacity upgrades on demand feature.
This capability lets customers activate processors when they need them, and turn them off when they do not, and get charged for the number of days the processors are used.
"We can buy the processing power we need and then sell it back to IBM when we don't need it anymore," Foong added. "Our business is growing and a lot of it is international. The iSeries makes it easy to hook up with our suppliers outside Singapore. An Australian diamond supplier, for example, can show us the list of diamonds available worldwide online."
The iSeries 800 was also recommended by Intentia. Intentia and IBM started rolling out their solution for Tianpo in March. The entire implementation process is expected to take nine months, said Foong. |
