REDUCING SERVER COSTS THROUGH VIRTUALISATION

Boots chose Cable&Wireless Worldwide as a supplier who understands web platforms and the business challenges facing retailers. Boots needed a new web platform for their website and online store, integrated into existing back-end business systems. It would also need to support call centre staff dealing with customers’ queries and phone orders. Flexibility was vital to meet seasonal peak demands and anticipated growth.

Boots aimed to develop their customer relationships, personalise the online experience and increase revenue through more products and services, while ensuring PCI DSS compliance.

Their four year old legacy system could not meet these demands and was incompatible with the new virtualisation technologies that use infrastructure more cost-effectively. The infrastructure already used 10 servers and would need around 30 unless the platform changed.

FLEXIBILITY WITH SECURITY

We introduced a completely new web platform to help revitalise Boots’ online presence. The new Boots.com application is hosted in two secure Cable&Wireless Worldwide data centres, using IBM Websphere with Oracle database technology, on a highly efficient Sun hardware platform, to deliver the full benefits of virtualisation.

The solution runs in three tiers: web, application and database. The web tier has six different virtualised applications, using Cable&Wireless Worldwide storage, with EMC, traffic management and optimisation technology to improve performance and end-user experience. Virtualisation allows significant server consolidation and accommodates seasonal demands, without needing additional hardware. Having fewer servers saves on web hosting costs and reduces Boots’ IT carbon footprint.

We also ensured the new system is highly secure, with an application-aware firewall and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to maintain PCI compliance and protect customer data.

TIMELY DELIVERY

We delivered in time for Christmas, Boots’ busiest trading period of the year, and ensured they are better equipped to meet customer demand well into the future.