Library Institute Creates 21st-Century Web Site for New Generation of Industry Professionals
The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), the leading organisation in the United Kingdom for librarians and information specialists, wanted a Web site that would integrate with its back-end membership database. Working with cScape Strategic Internet Services, a Microsoft® Gold Certified Partner and leading Web development agency, CILIP re-designed its Web site, migrated to Microsoft Content Management Server 2002, and integrated the subscription database. For the first time it is giving external CILIP branches and internal departments the opportunity to manage their own content. Web pages which previously took a week to prepare are now done in minutes. The solution includes advanced personalisation and registration for CILIP members through the implementation of Microsoft BizTalk® Server 2004. The Web site is now at the heart of every activity CILIP undertakes and is helping the organisation to recruit and retain members.

Published: March 16, 2006

Venerable Publisher Undertakes a Sweeping Rebranding Effort
In August 2003, MHC launched its Construction.com site—known internally as “the Network.” It is built on Microsoft technology, including Microsoft Commerce Server 2002 (part of Microsoft Windows Server System™ integrated server software), the Microsoft Visual Studio® development system, Microsoft Passport Network, and Web services. “The delivery mechanism is the Network, and the Network is powered by .NET technology,” explains Brian Tonry, Vice President of Product Development at MHC.

Tommy Hilfiger Delivers Full-Scale Online Retail Presence in Less Than Six Months
After a year of attempting to develop an online retail presence using Linux, Tommy Hilfiger had made little progress. The company had six months to complete the project and, beyond that, had to address a set of legacy applications that no longer met its needs. Working with Cactus Commerce and Columbus IT, Tommy Hilfiger met both goals by standardizing on Microsoft® software, including Microsoft Windows Server System™ for the Web site and Microsoft Business Solutions–Axapta® (now part of Microsoft Dynamics™) for global enterprise resource planning. With its new solution, Tommy Hilfiger gains a unified information infrastructure that extends from the company’s online presence to its global retail and wholesale operations and upon which new applications that improve business capabilities can rapidly be deployed. Tommy Hilfiger anticipates new business capabilities, an estimated 25–30 percent decrease in IT operating costs, improved competitive advantage, and an additional return on investment through compressed product design times and supply chain optimization.

Nonprofit Prison-Industry Company Builds ERP System at Half the Cost of Alternatives
Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises (PRIDE) provides job training and support for prisoners and ex-offenders in Florida. With 40 diverse manufacturing and service divisions, the nonprofit organization found it difficult to operate efficiently as one company. PRIDE wrestled with multiple systems, including a mainframe-based manufacturing system that did not provide detailed cost information by product line. When the state of Florida required its vendors to adopt a new Web-based procurement model, PRIDE decided to revamp its systems to support state requirements and to attract new business. Working with Microsoft® partners Fullscope and Tribridge, PRIDE is rolling out Microsoft Business Solutions–Axapta® (now part of Microsoft Dynamics™), a solution that helps it operate effectively as a single organization while improving efficiency and supporting e-commerce—all at a low total cost of ownership.

International Security Provider Finances Its Future with Total Solution Financing
Securicor Netherlands had outgrown its old enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. When it chose Microsoft Business Solutions–Axapta (now part of Microsoft Dynamics™), it didn't realize that not only was the company getting a new flexible and integrated ERP system, but it would also be able to finance it in affordable monthly payments. Total Solution Financing from Microsoft Capital Corporation has meant that Securicor Netherlands can get the benefits of a new ERP system now but pay for it over three to five years. This means Securicor Netherlands can keep cash reserves and invest in other critical assets or it can preserve capital for emergencies. Total Solution Financing combines all hardware, software, and services into a single contract and invoice, making it remarkably easy and efficient for Securicor Netherlands to keep track of its financed and leased assets.

Published: February 9, 2006

Gumlink Stretches Chewing Gum Productivity with Microsoft Business Solutions–Axapta
When you chew a piece of chewing gum, you don't often think about the complexity involved in producing it. In 1848, the first commercial chewing gum was made and sold. Today, Gumlink A/S is continuing to produce chewing gum of the highest quality and has ambitions to become a major supplier to the medicinal chewing gum market. Gumlink has over 200 different recipes and 800 different products that it produces, packages and ships, so it really needs to have quick access to relevant information in order to effectively manage productivity. It implemented Microsoft® Business Solutions—Axapta® (now part of Microsoft DynamicsTM) and increased productivity by 20 percent. Three months after Microsoft Axapta was installed, Gumlink experienced a record high manufacturing output and it lowered its inventory levels from DKK 150 million to DKK 90 million (US $24.6 million to US $14.7 million).

Nonprofit Organization Enhances Operational Efficiency, Cuts Costs
The American Bible Society, a nonprofit organization that sells bibles and provides outreach programs throughout the United States, faced inefficiencies due to a complex J.D. Edwards accounting system. Because the system didn’t integrate with the organization’s existing Microsoft® environment, information needed to be replicated, and managers were unable to obtain up-to-date reports. In addition, the system was time-consuming and costly to maintain, wasting both employee time and precious IT funds. To remedy this, the American Bible Society implemented Microsoft Business Solutions–Great Plains® (now part of Microsoft Dynamics™) as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution and Microsoft SQL Server™ 2000 to generate real-time reports quickly and easily. As a result, the organization has reduced operating costs, increased efficiency, and streamlined business processes.

Municipalities Centralize Server Platform, Standardize and Simplify Service Delivery
The Urban Community of Lezíria do Tejo (CULT), working in partnership with Microsoft Corporation and Portuguese IT services company Novabase, launched the Ribatejo Digital project to automate and simplify service delivery for its 11 associate municipalities. A central technology environment based on Microsoft® Windows Server System™ integrated server software was implemented to interoperate with different municipal back-office systems using XML-based Web services. The environment also supports a regional geographic information system based on an application from ESRI. Innovative municipal, tourism, and business information and services can now be provided through a regional portal as well as the Web sites of the 11 municipalities. The project is helping the municipalities deliver services more efficiently, and is providing a catalyst for other organizations in the region to modernize.

Costco Web Division More Than Triples Sales with E-Commerce Solution
Costco.com operates the Web site of Costco Wholesale Corporation, a pioneer in the world of wholesale buying clubs. Only three years after enabling online purchasing on the site, Costco.com generated nearly U.S.$100 million in online revenue—and had outgrown its e-commerce management system. Unable to handle increasing Web traffic volume, the existing system was difficult to support and required that the IT staff handle every update to the Web site, which often took days rather than hours. As a result, Costco lost sales opportunities. To solve these problems, Costco.com migrated to Microsoft® Commerce Server 2002. The solution easily handled the growing volume of online sales, which more than doubled the first year. It also gave business managers the tools they needed to manage most Web site updates, relieving the IT staff of these tasks and freeing more than 50 percent of their time.

Published: September 28, 2005

Published: September 21, 2005

Unified E-Government Infrastructure Enables Interagency Workflow
Israel is improving the quality of its public services while reducing administrative costs and complexities through the deployment of a unified interagency and public-facing e-government infrastructure. Standardized on the Microsoft® Windows Server System™, solutions include government intranet and enterprise resource planning (ERP) as well as a public portal with access to uniform electronic forms and online payment services. Security is addressed with public key infrastructure (PKI)–based smart cards being issued to all government employees and, ultimately, to all citizens. The unified e-government infrastructure is paving the way for interagency information sharing and workflow, and is enabling the delivery of seamless services to the public.

Published: July 20, 2005

Published: June 28, 2005

London Borough of Newham Chooses Microsoft Solution Over Open Source as Best Overall Value Option
Newham Council, an innovative and leading-edge local authority in the United Kingdom, was faced with the need to lower cost and risk, while providing a financially predictable, stable, and innovative information and communications technology ICT) platform to support its ambitious long-term transformation plans. A multi-disciplinary team under the lead of Capgemini was brought in to evaluate the best possible solution for the borough, comparing the costs, business benefits, and risk profiles of a Microsoft® solution (incorporating Microsoft Windows® XP and the Microsoft Office System on the desktop, with Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003) with equivalent Open Source solutions. The analysis showed that by standardizing on a Microsoft solution, the borough could lower ICT operating costs, derive additional significant business benefit, and secure the desired predictability and stability. Specific benefits of an all-Microsoft solution included the potential for a 13.5 per cent reduction in ICT support and operation costs and double the productivity benefits of an Open Source solution.

Oil Manufacturer Enhances Productivity Through Portal Integration and Collaboration
Established in 1985 and with yearly sales in the region of US$128 million, Bidco Oil Refineries manufactures and distributes high-quality edible oils, fats, margarine, soaps and detergents. The company has four factories: edible oils, based in Nakuru; production of edible fats and soap, with a factory in Thika near Nairobi, Kenya; a newly opened factory in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania); and Jinja in Uganda, which is East Africa’s biggest oil refinery. As a large distributed enterprise manufacturing mass goods, Bidco was operating with a standard intranet solution with limited functionality. While the intranet solution enabled enterprise-wide distribution and access of information, it lacked the enhanced collaborative functions that the company sought. Requiring an advanced technology solution to integrate all its applications and data sources across the intranet to improve productivity, collaboration, and accessibility for employees, Bidco turned to Microsoft for a suitable business solution.

Council Offers Free E-Ticketing Solution to Every Local Authority to Help Meet E-Government Targets
The Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK), a suburban borough in southwest London, provides local authority services to 150,000 people. RBK obtained funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to lead on development of an e-ticketing solution for both council services and community groups as part of the e-Pay National Project. CIBER U.K., a Microsoft® Gold Partner, implemented ‘My Kingston,’ with Microsoft Commerce Server 2002 using the Microsoft .NET Framework. Community groups in Kingston can register as promoters to sell tickets, or register participants for their events, on ‘My Kingston,’ and benefit from the full value of their tickets. RBK is experiencing more hits on its Web site, with residents becoming more aware of the transactional services available to them online from the council. The e-ticketing solution will be made available free to every local authority in the U.K., saving them from spending any money on development costs.

Published: May 5, 2005

Cement Manufacturer Gains Fast Access to Vital Information with Knowledge Management
Spanish cement manufacturer Cementos Lemona needed a knowledge management solution to improve its business intelligence and collaboration processes. It decided to develop a corporate intranet and extranet portal, integrated with knowledge management software. The company selected a Microsoft® solution, implemented by Softec, based on the Microsoft Office System, Microsoft Content Management Server (MCMS) 2002, and Microsoft BizTalk® Server 2002. This provides improved information exchange and document management, with seamless integration of corporate applications, and enhanced collaboration. The company expects a return on investment within 18 months.

Published: January 2, 2005

Sales Double for Leading U.K. Independent Record Label after Bringing E-Commerce Operation In-House
Ministry of Sound is the largest U.K. independent record label, and its brand is also widely recognised throughout the world. For a number of years, the e-commerce site was run by a third party, but Ministry of Sound wanted to bring this responsibility in-house to gain a better understanding of its customers, increase sales, and introduce new product. It implemented Microsoft® Solution for Internet Business (MSIB) 2.5 to create a powerful, dynamic, fast, and easily manageable e-commerce site. Sales in both September and October 2004 were double the sales for December 2003, traditionally the busiest time of the year. Management time has been drastically reduced, personalised offers and promotions are easily created, and end users without technical experience can refresh the site within minutes.