IBM Helps Elie Tahari Deliver Apparel More Quickly

Popular Designer Uses IBM System i to Take Styles From Design to Store

ARMONK, NY - 24 Aug 2006: IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced today that leading fashion designer Elie Tahari reported that IBM’s “all-in-one” System i business computing solution helps it to more effectively manage its production process and deliver higher quality garments to retailers around the world through an advanced business intelligence system.

“Running on the System i platform, we now have greater visibility into vital business data that allows us to achieve the level of quality and detail we’ve always strived for,” said Jason Epstein, chief technology officer, Elie Tahari.

Elie Tahari runs its business primarily on a System i550 with an integrated DB2 database, including an innovative business intelligence system that provides comprehensive, real-time views of all aspects of the business so management can respond quickly to changing conditions.

Working with IBM, Elie Tahari has dramatically reduced pre-production errors and is able to deliver higher-quality garments with fewer delays. Elie Tahari evaluated Microsoft SQL Server to support its business intelligence solution, but selected DB2 on System i after benchmarks proved it to be the more robust solution.

“The System i platform delivers a simplified system to our customers -- no matter the size of the business,” said Mark Shearer, general manager, IBM System i. “Elie Tahari’s powerful business intelligence system running on a single System i has enabled the company to innovate its business and deliver superior products more rapidly to Elie Tahari customers, rather than maintaining a costly and complex IT environment.”

The System i platform is extremely reliable and, because of its integrated design, enables Elie Tahari to support its business intelligence system with a small IT staff of three employees. Also, because the system is so easy to operate, these employees are able to concentrate on finding new ways of using technology to improve the business instead of just maintaining the company’s IT environment.

For example, Elie Tahari recently started piloting a unique scorecard application running on System i that provides its managers improved visibility into the information gained from its business intelligence system. If a manager receives a customized scorecard that shows a manufacturing delay in one of the company’s factories, the manager can click through the application and drill down to find the cause and quickly work to correct the problem. Elie Tahari expects the new scorecard application will allow it to provide its customers with better service while reducing costs.


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Joanna Brewer

IBM Media Relations

IBM

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