IBM Case Studies Gaining the flexibility to grow and diversify globally with IBM and SAP

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	Gaining the flexibility to grow and diversify globally with IBM and SAP IBM

Gaining the flexibility to grow and diversify globally with IBM and SAP

IBM

Technology Category	Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Storage Services Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms
Applicable Industries	Equipment & Machinery
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Sales & Marketing
Use Cases	Inventory Management Supply Chain Visibility
Services	Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services System Integration
Challenge	HANSA-FLEX, a hydraulics specialist, differentiates itself through the speed of its logistics processes. However, as the business grew, it faced the challenge of ensuring that its SAP landscape would keep up the pace. The company's previous server landscape, which was based on larger, monolithic servers, needed regular upgrades, which could lead to downtime. This was a significant challenge as HANSA-FLEX uses SAP ERP applications to operate a global network of branches and a fleet of express vehicles that enable its technicians to respond rapidly to failures and maintenance requests. The company needed a more flexible, modular configuration, where it could expand capacity as needed with minimal impact on its 12 production systems. Read More
About Customer	HANSA-FLEX is a leading global supplier of hydraulics components. Headquartered in Bremen, the company operates 393 branches and a fleet of 302 rapid-response service vans in 36 countries. HANSA-FLEX employs 3,394 people and generated a turnover of EUR405 million (USD453.51 million) in 2014. The company strives to deliver its range of 95,000 high-quality products within less than 24 hours. To achieve this level of performance, efficient stock management and advanced logistics are essential. For this reason, HANSA-FLEX uses SAP ERP applications to help it operate a global network of branches and a fleet of express vehicles that enable its technicians to respond rapidly to failures and maintenance requests. Read More
Solution	To boost scalability and flexibility, HANSA-FLEX migrated its SAP ERP applications onto a new infrastructure, built on IBM Power System 824 servers running the IBM i operating system. The company worked with IBM Business Partner BLUE Consult and BLUE STEC to redesign its IT architecture. To streamline its IT landscape, HANSA-FLEX implemented a virtualized storage landscape based on IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller. This created a single storage environment for all internal platforms. Today, the IBM Power Systems servers and the company's Windows environment rely on the same storage solution. Using IBM Easy Tier technology, the storage virtualization appliance automatically distributes data across ultrafast IBM FlashSystem 840 with MicroLatency technology and general-purpose IBM Storwize V7000 storage systems to maximize application performance on both server platforms without manual tuning. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Storage Services

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms

Applicable Industries

Equipment & Machinery

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Inventory Management

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services

System Integration

Challenge

HANSA-FLEX, a hydraulics specialist, differentiates itself through the speed of its logistics processes. However, as the business grew, it faced the challenge of ensuring that its SAP landscape would keep up the pace. The company's previous server landscape, which was based on larger, monolithic servers, needed regular upgrades, which could lead to downtime. This was a significant challenge as HANSA-FLEX uses SAP ERP applications to operate a global network of branches and a fleet of express vehicles that enable its technicians to respond rapidly to failures and maintenance requests. The company needed a more flexible, modular configuration, where it could expand capacity as needed with minimal impact on its 12 production systems.

About Customer

HANSA-FLEX is a leading global supplier of hydraulics components. Headquartered in Bremen, the company operates 393 branches and a fleet of 302 rapid-response service vans in 36 countries. HANSA-FLEX employs 3,394 people and generated a turnover of EUR405 million (USD453.51 million) in 2014. The company strives to deliver its range of 95,000 high-quality products within less than 24 hours. To achieve this level of performance, efficient stock management and advanced logistics are essential. For this reason, HANSA-FLEX uses SAP ERP applications to help it operate a global network of branches and a fleet of express vehicles that enable its technicians to respond rapidly to failures and maintenance requests.

Solution

To boost scalability and flexibility, HANSA-FLEX migrated its SAP ERP applications onto a new infrastructure, built on IBM Power System 824 servers running the IBM i operating system. The company worked with IBM Business Partner BLUE Consult and BLUE STEC to redesign its IT architecture. To streamline its IT landscape, HANSA-FLEX implemented a virtualized storage landscape based on IBM System Storage SAN Volume Controller. This created a single storage environment for all internal platforms. Today, the IBM Power Systems servers and the company's Windows environment rely on the same storage solution. Using IBM Easy Tier technology, the storage virtualization appliance automatically distributes data across ultrafast IBM FlashSystem 840 with MicroLatency technology and general-purpose IBM Storwize V7000 storage systems to maximize application performance on both server platforms without manual tuning.

Impact #1	The solution improves business flexibility, enabling faster response to new demands.
Impact #2	It also runs analytics queries 56 percent faster, while cutting operating costs and increasing staff productivity.
Impact #3	HANSA-FLEX now has an IT infrastructure that enables the business to be more flexible in accommodating growth and new requirements.

Impact #1

The solution improves business flexibility, enabling faster response to new demands.

Impact #2

It also runs analytics queries 56 percent faster, while cutting operating costs and increasing staff productivity.

Impact #3

HANSA-FLEX now has an IT infrastructure that enables the business to be more flexible in accommodating growth and new requirements.

Benefit #1	Response times have been improved by 56 percent.
Benefit #2	The company benefits from 55 percent faster processing of background tasks.
Benefit #3	Database processing alone was accelerated by up to 70 percent.

Benefit #1

Response times have been improved by 56 percent.

Benefit #2

The company benefits from 55 percent faster processing of background tasks.

Benefit #3

Database processing alone was accelerated by up to 70 percent.

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Overview

Gaining the flexibility to grow and diversify globally with IBM and SAP

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit