Vormittag Associates, Inc., a vendor of enterprise products for the distribution, manufacturing, retail and service industries and an IBM (News - Alert) Premier Business Partner, has announced IBM's integration of the System i and System p enterprise platforms into the Power Systems product portfolio.

 

The move gives VAI's S2K Enterprise Resource Planning Software Suite a significant power boosting benefit, according to VAI officials.

 

The IBM Power Systems unifies the IBM System i, with the UNIX operating system platform, IBM System p. "Customers that previously operated the System i can now transfer data to the new systems, while continuing to run operating systems to which they have become accustomed," company officials say.

 

VAI officials say the Power Systems launch enhances the processing power of its S2K product line. In particular, the company's e-commerce and analysis applications will benefit from the increased speed and precision of the unified platforms, they say.

 

VAI's S2K ERP Software Suite is billed as "maximizing productivity and profitability by centralizing company data" by company officials: "The System i and System p unification is a logical decision by IBM that reflects the growing needs businesses have for accurate information," said Kevin Beasley, CIO, VAI, who added that this move "fits perfectly with VAI's corporate vision."

 

Last month IBM Japan signed an extension to its outsourcing contract with Mazda Motor Corporation to support the automaker's global operations. The agreement extends the previous contract for the December 1999 to May 2010 period by five years, and runs through 2015, according to officials from both firms.

 

Part of the deal is that IBM Japan will use its global technology expertise, standard processes and tools, and other offerings for system development and management to build information systems helping Mazda respond to management needs. IBM Japan uses what it calls "front-loading methodology" to develop information systems for its supply chain and customer relationship management (CRM) projects.

 

This approach "enables improved system quality, shortened development periods and reduced development costs, among other benefits," IBM Japan officials said.

 

The modified strategic outsourcing contract period will take effect in April 2008 for seven years through 2015. The new agreement differs from the original in that it covers not only the development, maintenance and operation of information systems, but also prioritizes human resources development to enhance Mazda's business and systems know-how.

 

Under the terms of the contract, business and systems know-how will be exchanged between personnel from Mazda's information system division and IBM Global Services Japan Chugoku Solutions Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM Japan.