announced it has chosen IBM to provide the store technology infrastructure
for the company’s more than 2,500 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto
Rico in what is one of the first and largest deployments of the Linux open
source operating system in a chain store environment. The largest paint
company in the U.S. is turning to IBM for the technology and services to
support its customers in a multi-store environment, improve customer
service and create an innovative, flexible front-end system and
user-friendly experience.
By selecting IBM’s portfolio of services, consulting and IBM NetVista
personal computers running Turbolinux, Sherwin-Williams establishes the
platform for future improvements, upgrades hardware and software without
disrupting store operations, provides new in-store features such as e-mail,
intranet browsing, and office productivity software and implements a fast
and open platform for quick resolution of technical issues.
“Maintaining leadership in a competitive environment requires us to have
flexible technical solutions, and to build a customer facing platform that
can be easily integrated with our future and existing systems,” said Bill
Thompson, Director of Information Technology for Sherwin-Williams’ Paint
Stores Group. “The solution we’ve developed with IBM will help us do that.”
The company worked with a Linux services team from IBM Global Services to
design and integrate an in-store network that will consist of 9700 IBM
NetVista M41 small desktop personal computers for all 2500-plus stores, all
running Linux. In addition, all peripherals such as printers, scanners,
cash drawers and switches will be Linux compatible, offering a flexible,
open architecture that is easily adaptable with inventory and sales
applications running on the Linux platform at workstations throughout the
Sherwin-Williams chain. One desktop PC will serve as an in-store server and
another as a manager’s workstation, improving customer service by enabling
accessibility to both servers and their respective applications from any
workstation in the store.
Sherwin-Williams’ paint tinting and color matching applications will also
be tied into the network, enabling the formulas for custom paint blends to
be filed and kept securely for the customer’s next project. The
Sherwin-Williams ‘ Point of Sale and inventory applications will run in the
Linux environment. Sherwin-Williams will be using IBM E74 color monitors, a
17-inch CRT monitor ideally suited for accurate display of colors and
information.
Pilot installations have already taken place in stores in the Cleveland
area. Main deployment will begin in July and completed by second quarter
2003. The Sherwin-Williams project team designed, engineered, and developed
the overall solution. IBM Global Services will continue to provide Linux
consulting, integration, project management, installation and OEM
procurement.
“Linux is truly a business-friendly operating system that
simplifies the technical infrastructure,” said Patricia Gibbs, IBM vice
president, Linux Services. “It can also seamlessly integrate and thus
enhance the quality of service and relationships with all of a company’s
constituencies — its customers, employees, vendors and suppliers.
Sherwin-Williams understands this, and is installing Linux-based technology
in a highly visible, mission-critical area because it provides open-ended
flexibility for whatever the company wants to do next.”
About Sherwin-Williams
The Sherwin-Williams Company, established in Cleveland in 1866, is a $5
billion manufacturer, distributor and retailer of paint, coatings and
related products. It is the largest paint company in the United States and
one of the largest in the world. Well known brands include
Sherwin-Williams®, Dutch Boy®, Pratt & Lambert®, Martin-Senour®,
Thompson’s®, Minwax® and Krylon®. The Company has over 25,500 employees and
operates more than 2,500 paint stores and 52 manufacturing plants
worldwide. For more information, go to www.sherwin.com.
About IBM Global Services
IBM Global Services is the world’s largest information technology services
provider, with approximately 150,000 professionals serving customers in 160
countries and annual revenue of more than $35 billion (2001). IBM Global
Services integrates IBM’s broad range of capabilities — services,
hardware, software and research — to help companies of all sizes realize
the full value of information technology. For more information, visit:
www.ibm.com/services
Category:
- Linux
