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Winn-Dixie Uses IBM System z to Deliver Better Service, Value and Performance


WEBWIRE

Mainframe Consolidation Effort Proves Strong Cost Savings Over Distributed Environment

ARMONK, NY: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., one of the nation’s largest food retailers, has consolidated its IT infrastructure to a System z9 Enterprise Class (z9 EC) mainframe to drive more efficiency from current business-critical processes and data such as store operations, finance, human resources and Web content.

As a longtime mainframe user, Winn-Dixie evaluated the benefits of consolidating its mainframe operations versus other potential solutions and found the mainframe with its reliability, security, and expandability to offer the best total cost of ownership for both the short and long term.

Winn-Dixie took delivery of the z9 EC featuring specialty processors -- the System z9 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) and the Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) processor -- and migrated its data and applications to the new solution. Today, the company is reaping the benefits of the IBM mainframe with increased business efficiency.

“Cost was the driving factor in our decision to deploy the IBM System z9 EC,” said Charlie Weston, Group Vice President of Information Technology at Winn-Dixie. “We’ve cut our operating costs significantly while ensuring that the z9 has sufficient processor capability to support Winn Dixie for years to come. The use of the mainframe is integral to our success as we continue getting better all the time.”

“Winn-Dixie is one of the many System z clients who have told us that the mainframe helps them attack any TCO challenge. For System z clients and prospects, TCO stands for ’take costs out,’” said Anne Altman, IBM general manager, System z.

Winn-Dixie is using its IFL processors for back-end applications and the zIIP processors for eligible DB2 for z/OS offload. Taking advantage of IBM’s initiative to drive Linux and other new workloads to the mainframe, the IBM solution allows Winn-Dixie to run enterprise Linux applications and databases with current resources, such as PeopleSoft for finance and human resources, Retalix for grocery retailers and Tomax for scheduling labor.

Specifically, Winn-Dixie took advantage of the following IBM benefits to gain stronger economic returns from their IT infrastructure:

IBM DB2 Connect and its Portal Application helps Winn-Dixie avoid running disparate applications for each business function. The software provides a central point of entry, higher security and information integration. A custom-built information “store” combines information from 18 databases to offer its employees a single point of access to critical information, such as lease and operational information.
IBM DB2 for z/OS as the primary database to capitalize on IBM’s New Application License Charge (NALC) -- a more competitive software pricing model for new workloads. Also, zIIP specialty engines run eligible DB2 for z/OS workload, freeing up capacity on the general purpose engines for other z/OS work.
IBM Global Financing with flexible terms and conditions to consolidate from two older generation mainframes to the System z9 Enterprise Class.

Since Winn-Dixie’s initial investment of System z, the company has also implemented additional resources including an increase in specialty engines.



For more information about IBM System z, visit www.ibm.com/systems/z



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