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| Case Study: Jim Beam | ||
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"We now have
control of our IT systems and comply with the Jim Beam worldwide IT
strategy. ISG technology’s technicians are very responsive and
knowledgeable." Rhona McKeown, Finance & Administration Manager, Jim Beam |
Jim Beam is the world’s best selling bourbon. The flagship brand of parent
company Beam Global Spirits & Wine; approximately 5.5 million cases are sold
each year, across 120 countries.
Beam Global Spirits & Wine is the fourth largest premium spirits company in the world, with nine of the top 100 premium spirits in its portfolio and $2.5 |
billion
annual revenue. It is part of the holding company Fortune
Brands. In 2005, the business added a range of new spirits to its portfolio following several acquisitions. The initiative saw the company’s sales double and the number of its brands on the top 100 premium spirits list triple. |
| The Challenge |
Beam Brands Greater Europe decided to outsource its IT function. In doing so it required a UK technology partner with the expertise to work with a global, world-class enterprise. |
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During the period of acquisition the company switched from being almost 75 per
cent US driven to achieving a close 50/50 split between the US and the rest of
the world. As part of a programme to accommodate these changes, the company required the installation of a new IT infrastructure across its numerous global locations, including its Glasgow–based UK offshoot, Jim Beam Brands Greater Europe. |
A comprehensive corporate IT strategy was devised calling for minimal hardware
in the UK; relying instead on transatlantic links for email servers and IBM
AS/400 applications. The plan was to also standardise the latest Microsoft
Office suite running on a Windows platform.
Due to increasing demand and the added complexities of migrating to its US parent company’s infrastructure, Jim |
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| Solutions Delivered | ||
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ISG technology was brought on board for the initial migration, as well as to
provide ongoing IT support services. Its remit was to transfer operations to the
new global IT platforms, rationalise its software and introduce appropriate
technical support arrangements. In order to minimise dirruption to the company’s usual operations, its expert technicians completed the migration out of hours, led by ISG technology’s proficient project managers. By the end of this limited timeframe the team had successfully |
moved all files and directory structures to
a new local server, transferred email to a remote Microsoft Exchange Server in
the US and installed new operating systems and applications software.
Impressed by the team’s flexibility, demonstrable dedication, professionalism and expertise, Jim Beam Brands Greater Europe elected to outsource all its hardware and software support to ISG technology. As part of this service, ISG technology maintains the company’s communication links, |
personal computers, servers and Microsoft Office software, as well as undertaking virus signature updates, patches and software upgrades.
Through an appropriate mix of on-site and remote troubleshooting support services, ISG technology continues to provide high level day-to-day consultation and support, including the proactive monitoring of network availability and performance. |
| Experts in Networking, IT Services and Multisourcing Visit: www.isg-technology.com Email: info@isg-technology.com Tel: 01784 485 200 | ||