Pocket Use Case #1: Precise Software Moves to the Cloud

In the interest of saving time on delivering new and useful information, The Station is trying out a new feature here today. It’s called a Pocket Use Case, or PUC for short. Goes to show that journalists can come up with good acronyms just as well as product managers.

A PUC is a trimmed-down example of how new IT is working in the real world. A majority of these stories will emanate from data center managers and others on the front lines, but some will come from various industry people — analysts, integrators, OEMs, and yes — perhaps even product and service vendors.

We’ll make sure we disclose everything up front, so that you, the reader, know ahead of time what you’re reading. These will not become clever ad placements, because if one smells like it, it will get rejected faster than a ZFS event.

The fact is, even vendors come up with good examples of how things work in the real world. Sure, they will be self-serving to an extent, but so what? The information and experience is what we’re after, and if we think it can help you make a more informed decision on something that interests you, well then, there is value for you.

We’ll keep them short and add links to relevant sidebars (Websites, whitepapers, blogs, feature articles, videos, etc.) as they are available. Consider this a beta trial.

That’s enough intro. Here’s our first one, courtesy of Kevin Wolf of Menlo Park, Calif.:

Journey to the Cloud Changes Everything in One Company’s IT

In the span of a year, Precise Software completely transformed its IT infrastructure to virtualization and cloud software, saving a whopping 70 percent ($2 million) in annual IT costs. Would you mind saving 70 percent of your OPEX?

Precise, a midsize provider of application management technologies based in Silicon Valley and Israel, began its internal transformation in 2009, and the process was faster and more hassle-free than its IT director predicted.

How did they do it? There were no expensive consultants, no special sauce. The company focused on choosing the right technologies and keeping things simple. Here are a few highlights:

—Rapid ERP and CRM migration: Took only three days to deploy Salesforce and NetSuite and fully integrate them, including a mere five hours to migrate all company data into Netsuite/Salesforce.

—Migrated from Exchange Server to Google Mail: Completed in five days, and also migrated from SharePoint to Google Sites.

—Integrated applications: Gmail, Salesforce, NetSuite, Marketo and Drupal were integrated to streamline sales, back office, marketing, CRM, and email processes automatically.

—Networks: Saving $8K/month by transitioning to AT&T Fiber networks.

—Mobile: Slashed mobile connectivity budget from $12K/month to $6K/month using AT&T and Verizon along withminute pooling programs; simultaneously switched from Blackberry to iPhone, saving $150K a year on license and data.

—Replaced landline telecom with VoIP: Reduced bills from $14K/month to $1,500/month

—Server/storage virtualization: Reduced CAPEX and OPEX spending from $1.2M annually to $400K. Impressive, but this is happening more and more.

—Total IT savings: Switching to cloud, virtual and mobile tech and a 50 percent staff reduction slashed the annual IT budget from $3.2M to $900K.

The facts stand for themselves. The Station stands in virtual awe.
Do you have a story to share about how you’re using new IT to gain better efficiencies and save money and power? Ship me a note at cpreimesberger@quinstreet.com and we’ll consider it.
Chris Preimesberger is Editor of Features and Analysis at eWEEK. Twitter: editingwhiz