Compaq Helps Richmond Take On The World

Compaq Helps Kiwi Exporter Richmond Take On The World

AUCKLAND, May 14, 2001 - International meat marketer and processor Richmond Ltd has implemented a world-wide IT system to connect all of its sales staff and agents around the world. The system, implemented by Compaq Computer NZ and Computerland Hawkes Bay, reduces supply chain costs, provides better working capital management and improves customer satisfaction.

The state-of-the-art computing platform manages Richmond's 24-hour, seven day operation and world-wide inventory of perishable product. Utilising JD Edwards' OneWorld software on two Compaq ProLiant servers with Compaq StorageWorks, the system handles supply chain, inventory, distribution and financial systems.

Richmond is New Zealand's largest meat exporter and is making the longterm transition from meat company to food company. It specialises in producing quality cuts of beef, lamb, goat, veal and venison for markets in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East and has an annual turnover of $1.3 billion.

"Now all our sales staff and agents around the world are online we have the ability to monitor and manage our key sales and financial performance indicators in near to real time," says Ian Bell, Richmond's IT Manager.

"The system means we gather better market information, are more responsive and are able to expand the system as we grow."

Richmond has grown rapidly over the past three years and now supports 13 New Zealand sites from its Hastings datacentre. Over the coming months a further seven offshore offices will be added to the load - requiring a high performance operation.

"The Compaq ProLiant servers and fibre channel storage area network have exceeded our expectations in all of our key criteria of reliability, expandability and performance," says Bell. "We expect it will be around for a lot longer than three years, even though it will grow in size."

Compaq's solution was designed to operate without downtime or overnight back ups to allow for European staff working through the New Zealand night, and allows for the introduction of an off-site disaster recovery facility.

For a company such as Richmond, whose global business depends on the performance, reliability and availability of its computer system, a change of this magnitude to its operating systems is a major decision.

"Given the nature of the installation and the learning we had to go through, it's been pretty painless and the delivery has lived up to its promise," says Ian Bell.

For Computerland, the project has been an opportunity to locally represent a world-class solution. Computerland Hawkes Bay General Manager Alan Greatbatch said he and his staff enjoyed working closely with Compaq on the project.

"Putting our technical people through the Compaq Accredited System Engineer course has been an opportunity to extend their training to the highest level. We value the credibility the qualification has given us in the industry."

Compaq Global Services Director, Simon Tong is enthusiastic about the outcome. "Working with Computerland we have been able to provide Richmond with a solution to their business critical computing needs. Richmond benefit from the local support available from Computerland. However, they are secure in the knowledge that Compaq's significant technical expertise and exhaustive experience in business critical environments are at their disposal."

"This successful business outcome is a direct result of Compaq and Computerland working closely together and is typical of the working relationship Compaq Global Services is looking to establish with its key partners."

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