Arkansas-based provider of timber harvesting equipment, has modernized its
critical business operations with an IBM eServer iSeries system at the core
of its on demand technology network.
Working with IBM and IBM Business Partner, CRT International Inc. (CRTI),
Suttle Equipment now saves significant time and money since implementing an
IBM iSeries system with CRTI's advanced software solution to access and
analyze inventory, sales and receivables data in real-time. Before the
upgrade, Suttle Equipment, a small business with 50 employees, relied on a
courier service to collect and deliver data tapes from its three Arkansas
locations to company headquarters for analysis -- a process that took up to
three days. The company's new infrastructure digitizes this process and
enables the store sales analysis to happen in just five minutes.
"This machine never goes down! The reliability of the iSeries system is why
Suttle Equipment has been able to operate for so long without an on-site IT
staff," says Jimmy McLaughlin, executive treasurer, Suttle Equipment. "Now,
with the new IBM i5 system, CRTI's support and software, we've been able to
move everything online, speed up business processes, and easily prepare for
future growth."
Since Suttle does not have an on-site IT support staff, the company needed
to upgrade to a system that requires little maintenance and ideally, could
be installed remotely. CRTI, using its QuickSilver Programmer's Tool Kit,
transitioned select software and software upgrades to the iSeries platform
allowing the customer to conduct the implementation with the aid of CRTI
representatives over the phone. This process required such minor
administration that the entire project was completed remotely in just 60
days.
With the enhanced capabilities of the IBM iSeries system, Suttle Equipment
has been able to implement a streamlined electronic invoice system --
eliminating the cost associated with a paper-based system. With invoices
stored online, Suttle can easily search for parts, bills, etc. in order to
expedite their customers' requests. On sales or customer service calls,
Suttle Equipment's field teams are able to search for needed information
from their cars via laptop computers, rather than having to travel to a
Suttle Equipment location. This on demand process saves time and resources
for both Suttle and the customer.
"IBM Business Partners working with small to mid-sized businesses to create
innovative, problem solving solutions is a leading objective of the iSeries
Initiative for Innovation launched on February of this year," says Mark
Shearer, general manager, IBM eServer iSeries. "The partnership between
Suttle Equipment and CRTI resulted in a cost-effective on demand technology
solution. The iSeries system is an all-in-one computing system ideal for
companies looking to better serve customers while decreasing labor and the
overall cost of doing business."
About Suttle Equipment
Established in 1970 by Gene Suttle and carried on by his son, Doug Suttle,
this family-run business specializes in the sales and service of timber
harvesting equipment. It is headquartered in DeQueen, AR and has two other
locations in Arkadelphia, AR and Dardanelle, AR.
About CRT International, Inc.
CRT International Inc. develops application software and software tools for
small to medium sized businesses. It has been a provider of software,
hardware, and services for over 25 years. Over that time, it has built a
customer base numbering over 4500 companies. CRTI is an ISV for IBM
currently providing solutions to the SYSTEM/36 and iSeries user.
About the IBM eServer iSeries
The IBM iSeries system is a tightly integrated system including hardware,
middleware, storage and security. iSeries systems can run i5/OS, Windows
(via an IXA or IXS), Linux and AIX operating environments simultaneously so
clients can reinvest those savings to grow their business. Business
partners and solutions providers of all sizes drive iSeries server success
by building, selling and deploying over 6,400 of the world's most popular
business applications for their clients on the iSeries platform.
ABOUT IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of
leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across
IBM and key IBM Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services,
solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take
full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about
IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com.
The following are either trademarks or registered trademarks of
International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other
countries or both: IBM, the IBM e-business logo, eServer, iSeries.
All others are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies. Statements concerning IBM's future development plans and
schedules are made for planning purposes only, and are subject to change or
withdrawal without notice.
Other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks
of others.
Contact:
Kathleen McGraw
IBM Media Relations
646.598.6315
kmcgraw@us.ibm.com
SOURCE: IBM