Published on 17-Jul-2009
"We love WebSphere Portal’s ease of access with update capabilities…it’s saving the company a lot of money annually with real-time access of data, anywhere anytime, regardless of hardware platform." - Naser Long, MIS Director, TRI-WEST, Ltd
Customer:
TRI-WEST, Ltd
Industry:
Wholesale Distribution & Services
Deployment country:
United States
Solution:
Enterprise Modernization
IBM Business Partner:
Zobrist Consulting Group, Inc.
Overview
TRI-WEST Ltd is a leading floor covering distributor to retailers and flooring contractors in the Western United States, including Hawaii and Guam.
Business need:
To lower the high cost of continuous updates as well as improve customer service and better support sales staff productivity, TRI-WEST needed to replace its static Web site with a portal solution that would serve both internal users and customers.
Solution:
TRI-WEST worked with IBM Business Partner Zobrist Consulting Group to define and build a portal solution based on IBM WebSphere Portal Express to serve the public as well as customers and employees. The portal is integrated with IBM Lotus Web Content Management. IBM Content Manager provides asset management and content integration for all types of files. IBM Rational Host Access Transformation Services connects the company’s legacy applications to the portal.
Benefits:
Better customer service and improved business agility; Increased productivity for sales reps on the go, saving approximately US$750,000 per year; Eliminated VPN and associated software support costs, saving US$130,000 per year; Drastically reduced direct mailings, saving US$57,600 in the first year
Case Study
TRI-WEST Ltd is a leading floor covering distributor to retailers and flooring contractors in the Western United States, including Hawaii and Guam.
Challenge
To lower the high cost of continuous updates as well as improve customer service and better support sales staff productivity, TRI-WEST needed to replace its static Web site with a portal solution that would serve both internal users and customers.
The proposed solution would give customers 24x7 access to invoices, bills of lading and proof of delivery. Business users would be able to update the site without IT involvement, and sales staff would be able to access critical tools and information through the portal regardless of location.
Solution
TRI-WEST worked with IBM Business Partner Zobrist Consulting Group to define and build a portal solution based on IBM WebSphere Portal Express to serve the public as well as customers and employees. Customers can check order status, invoices and more, while employees can log into a secure and authenticated company intranet.
The portal is integrated with IBM Lotus Web Content Management, placing content control in the hands of business users and eliminating the need for IT to make minor updates. IBM Content Manager provides asset management and content integration for all types of files, giving TRI-WEST the ability to post how-to videos to drive customer traffic. IBM Rational Host Access Transformation Services connects the company’s legacy applications to the portal, allowing sales staff to access critical tools whenever and wherever they need them.
Benefits
-Better customer service and improved business agility
-Increased productivity for sales reps on the go, saving approximately US$750,000 per year
-Eliminated VPN and associated software support costs, saving US$130,000 per year
-Drastically reduced direct mailings, saving US$57,600 in the first year
Products and services used
IBM products and services that were used in this case study.
Software:
WebSphere Portal Express, Rational Host Access Transformation Services, Lotus Web Content Management
Legal Information
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2009 IBM Corporation Software Group Route 100 Somers, NY 10589 U.S.A. Produced in the United States of America July 2009 All Rights Reserved IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, Lotus, Rational and WebSphere are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the Web at “Copyright and trademark information” at ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. The information contained in this documentation is provided for informational purposes only. While efforts were made to verify the completeness and accuracy of the information contained in this documentation, it is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, express or implied. In addition, this information is based on IBM’s current product plans and strategy, which are subject to change by IBM without notice. IBM shall not be responsible for any damages arising out of the use of, or otherwise related to, this documentation or any other documentation. Nothing contained in this documentation is intended to, nor shall have the effect of, creating any warranties or representations from IBM (or its suppliers or licensors), or altering the terms and conditions of the applicable license agreement governing the use of IBM software.
