Optimizing IT Infrastructure for Rapid Growth

Situation - Disparate hardware and software from multiple acquisitions, Need to ensure interoperability and reduce support costs:

A large national retailer enjoyed rapid growth over several years. As a result of the expansion they acquired hardware and software from multiple sources creating an infrastructure of disparate technologies. However, the service and maintenance staff had not been scaled up in skills or number for all the additional IT equipment. As a result, the business found themselves dependent on their vendors for things like asset inventory and maintenance coverage strategy.

The “one size fits all” approach to service and maintenance was both costly and risky. If a problem arose with their mission critical infrastructure, they might not be able to resolve it quickly, which would negatively impact the business.

The company also recognized that since they were so focused on growth, they did not have the time or resources necessary to properly evaluate and develop a workable strategy for aligning the IT infrastructure and support with its business and service requirements.

They had to find an outside partner who could handle developing a cohesive and comprehensive infrastructure strategy based on industry best practices and in depth product/vendor knowledge.

Solution - Rationalized infrastructure, infrastructure lifecycle planning and smart sparing reduced costs by 20% and increased IT infrastructure up time:

Members of Capto conducted a thorough asset inventory and capacity review. Then, using their expertise in equipment life cycles, Capto recommended a service and maintenance strategy that incorporated: 

• Inventory retirement plan 
• New product purchase timeline 
• Service level differentiation based on criticality of equipment, and advanced sparing techniques

Capto also initiated a RFP process incorporating the revised requirements that brought additional savings to the retailer.

By working with Capto, the business experienced a near-term benefit of 20% savings on infrastructure maintenance. Equally important, the asset management process created by Capto became an ongoing capability to ensure IT infrastructure and supporting maintenance are aligned cost effectively through future growth and acquisitions.