IBM has replaced HP-Compaq as the main supplier of IT hardware to BWG Foods, which owns and operates the SPAR and Mace chain of retail stores in the Republic of Ireland.
In a major upgrade of its desktop hardware in all 30 of its delivered business and cash and carry facilities, BWG has decided to replace its existing Compaq machines with 220 IBM S42 desktop computers.
The possibility of upgrading to Linux was one of the reasons for going with IBM, according to BWG Foods IT manager Stephen Daly. IBM won out in a three way pitch between it, HP-Compaq, Dell.
IBM’s machines represent a ‘strong investment for our business and our decision also allow’s us to explore a move away from Windows to a Linux based environment,’ said Daly.
BWG Foods is a part of BWG Group, which was bought by Electra Partners Europe from Pernod Ricard in July 2002. BWG Foods, which also owns the Value Centre chain of cash & carry’s, has been undergoing a comprehensive IT infrastructure upgrade. Daly said the company is working towards replacing its old DG-UX TIU 64 servers with Linux-based Intel servers, and that IBM seemed the most committed to supporting Linux operating systems.
However, the Linux factor had less influence on the choice of desktop PCs than its current considerations over servers. The choice of PCs was driven more by form factor and price, said Daly. It is claimed that the IBM S42 PC takes up 64 per cent less space than a normal PC.
The C&C market has moved away from a wholesale shopping experience to a predominantly delivered business following recent technology advances. Daly said that BWG has been adapting its systems to accommodate the increasing numbers of its customers who are ordering goods electronically and having them delivered.
31/10/2003
Subscribers 0
Fans 0
Followers 0
Followers