HP and Dun & Bradstreet Software Deliver $5 Million Client Server Computing Solution to Saks Fifth Avenue; Retailing Giant Implementing a Mission-critical, Client Server System to Improve Decision Support for Purchasing

Business Wire, Jan 16, 1995

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 1995--Hewlett-Packard Company and Dun & Bradstreet Software today announced they have delivered a $5 million client/server computing solution to Saks Fifth Avenue that significantly improves decision-making, analysis and reporting processes. The new decision-support solution enables buyers and other decision makers to track purchase trends store-by-store and more accurately match merchandise on the shelf to the purchasing patterns of its customers. This announcement was made here at the National Retail Federation annual convention, being held Jan. 15-18 at the Hilton and Sheraton hotels.

The mission-critical, client/server solution connects more than 1,000 end users to D&B Software's SmartStream Decision Support(1) software running on a nationwide network of more than 50 of HP's industry-leading UNIX(R) system-based HP 9000 store servers. HP OpenView manages the network of HP servers, as well as about 60 Novell servers and more than 1,200 PCs across the nation.

Additionally, HP is providing consulting expertise and educational services to facilitate Saks Fifth Avenue's continuing migration to distributed information-management and client/server computing.

"This front-office implementation addresses one of the most important criteria for a retail concern's success -- delivering the merchandise that customers want," said John Hagerty, product manager for D&B Software's SmartStream Decision Support. "SmartStream Decision Support allows retailers like Saks to make quick and informed buying decisions based on customer trends."

"Our customers demand service excellence, which includes stocking our stores with a variety of fashion merchandise in each store, based on its demographics," said Bob Ramsden, senior vice president and chief information officer for Saks Fifth Avenue. "Thanks to D&B software and to HP hardware and services, we can satisfy complex requests for up-to-date, regional information from the buyers and others responsible for ensuring that each store has the right mix and quantities of merchandise. This practice, in turn, ensures that we service our customers to the best of our ability."

HP is a major supplier of UNIX system-based servers installed in the retail industry and offers a full solution of products and services to its retail customers.

"HP is delighted to be a part of Saks Fifth Avenue's success," said Jeff Siegel, HP's retail-industry marketing manager. "Our ability to understand and meet Saks Fifth Avenue's business needs and to help build a new, more flexible information-technology infrastructure demonstrates HP's commitment to the retail industry."

MOVE TO DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING

Saks Fifth Avenue previously relied primarily on a mainframe system to store information centrally and to process financial and inventory reports used by decision makers.

"Management reports often trailed store activity by more than a week, which placed our buyers under tremendous strain to make decisions based on outdated information," said Ramsden. "That led to missed opportunities when desired merchandise was not available." Based on its previous pioneering work in client/server and distributed computing, Saks Fifth Avenue made a strategic decision to implement new hardware, software and networking capabilities that could help it acquire, distribute and report more timely information. "After examining different solutions, we chose Dun & Bradstreet Software's Decision Support software for the flexibility it gave us in looking at information," said Ramsden. "HP was the logical platform choice because of the close relationship it has with D&B, as well as for its breadth of product line, strength in commercial UNIX applications and its strong support organization."

In addition to Dun & Bradstreet Software's services, Saks Fifth Avenue has relied on HP's Professional Services Organization for consulting and integration services to implement the new system, as well as for education on information management in UNIX system-based environments and on network management.

"With this latest application, Saks Fifth Avenue is continuing to demonstrate its client/server leadership in the retailing industry and to demonstrate the power of client/server computing in delivering the right information to the right people at the right time, at any of our 52 stores nationwide," Ramsden said.

THE SOLUTION FROM HP AND D&B SOFTWARE

At the heart of the Decision Support solution at Saks Fifth Avenue's New York headquarters is an HP 9000 Model T500 Corporate Business Server, which offers growth and scalability for the future. Also at headquarters are two HP 9000 Model 800 E35 servers for quality assurance and application development, as well as an HP 9000 Model 700 workstation for systems and network management. A combination of HP 9000 Model 800 E35 and E45 servers also are located at each of the 52 Saks Fifth Avenue stores and its two regional distribution centers -- all connected to headquarters via a high-speed Frame Relay Network.