Growth of retail chain stores "YES!" will support cloud computing of Servionika

The cloud DPC for new retail network "YES!" is unrolled based on data center TrustInfo

The company Freshmarket "OK" (group) placed computing infrastructure of the new retail network "YES!" in a cloud based on data center TrustInfo (Tier III) managed by the company Servionika I-Teco (group of companies). Cloud DPC allowed the retailer quickly and without the considerable capital investments to prepare start of the new project, and then, after the beginning of network functioning, quickly to scale computing powers under requirements of the growing business. Cloud computing is selected not only for reduction of operating expenses on IT, but also as an opportunity to react flexibly to the changing realities of retail market.

Reference on the customer

Retail chain stores of DA! (Freshmarket LLC) – the new project of OKEY Group, one of the product retailers, largest in Russia. The project on creation of discount chain "Yes!" will allow OKEY Group to appear in a new segment of retail: the network "YES!" will work in the format of shops discounters with the fixed price which is quickly gaining popularity in Russia. Besides, "YES!" stakes on a large number (more than 50) own trademarks under which the wide range of products — from groceries and dairy products to laundry detergent will be on sale.

The first shops under the brand "YES!" opened in September, 2015. OKEY Group expects to increase in 2016 sales volume in this direction of the business by 15–20%. Also enters into structure of network logistic the center of class "A", located in Moscow area.

Prerequisites of the Project

In competitive market of retail the efficiency of creation of network and its regional scaling solves a lot of things. Effective work of information systems of shops, uninterrupted communication with distribution centers and creation of the common information space covering all business processes and allowing to accelerate and simplify their support is of great importance. For example, operational replenishment of a product remaining balance allows retailers to locate always the range demanded by buyers and to compete successfully with other suppliers in the conditions of decrease in demand and decrease in client loyalty to retail brands.

Even at start of new network "YES!" by the management of network the decision to build a business IT component in a format of outsourcing support was made. Based on proposals of the Russian service providers a choice was made for benefit of Servionica (I-Teco Group) company.

Project Implementation

At a starting stage specialists of "turnkey" Servionica mounted a communication IT system of all new outlets and the distribution center in Moscow area. Then she was given to Servionika to technical support.

Computing powers of network "YES!" are decided to be placed in virtual DPC based on resources of the data center TrustInfo (Moscow) which is also under control of Servionika. On expert evaluations, the choice for benefit of cloud data center allowed to reduce the term of preparation of IT infrastructure for start of the first shops of network "YES!" and costs which would be involved on acquisition of the server hardware, creation and support of own DPC.

The DPC TrustInfo are included into the three of the largest commercial data centers of Russia and differs in the highest level of reliability (Tier III) that also met requirements of the customer to data security, reservation and high resource availability.

For benefit of Servionika a choice was made also thanks to profitable SLA, wide experience of provider in implementation of large cloud projects and to the universal service offer from more than 120 services in the field of IT outsourcing, development and support of cloud services.

Commercial operation of cloud DPC of network "YES!" at capacities of Servionika began in September, 2015. According to the plan of the project setup required for network functioning "YES!" computing resources based on DPC TrustInfo it was implemented in two stages.

1. IT infrastructure of the retailer and the ERP system of retail chain stores were unrolled based on the MakeCloud IaaS-service provided by Servionika. It is the product based on an open cloud platform of OpenStack which is specially intended for fast setup, start and control of virtual servers. It is possible to configure the necessary configuration in the MakeCloud interface in read minutes, without having special knowledge, at the same time tariffing of services is performed flexibly depending on the settings selected by the customer. Use of MakeCloud on "low start" allowed network "YES!" to unroll quickly virtual computing powers and to fulfill interaction with provider, to develop own approach to work in a cloud and to check operation of the signed agreement on service maintenance (SLA) in practice.

2. In process of growth of network "YES!" load of the computing system increased, there were new tasks, work-related business applications and complication of an IT landscape. Therefore the customer made the decision on transition to the platform allowing to create completely customized solution. At this stage specialists of Servionica foresaw seamless migration of virtual computing infrastructure "YES!" on the industrial eCloud platform.

eCloud is the platform for creation of virtual IT infrastructure intended for the large companies and projects of special complexity. The eCloud platform ensures safe functioning of the high-loaded systems and business and critical applications in a cloud environment, guaranteeing safety and data availability. Based on eCloud it is possible to create virtual DPCs, test environments, data warehouses, full-function private, hybrid and public clouds with high characteristics of security and scalability.

Computing and network powers of eCloud are created based on the infrastructure HP solutions, best in the class, and VMware. A part of the complete solution are the blade-HP servers of BL460G8 and a storage system 3PAR 10000. All components are duplicated that guarantees the high level of reliability of the IT services provided by provider.

HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 is the powerful dual-processor "edge" allowing to provide the highest performance, flexibility and simplicity of management. HP servers of ProLiant BL460c Gen8, as well as all new solutions of the eighth generation of servers of Hewlett-Packard, are equipped with processors of the last generation Intel® Xeon® E5-2600. They have 33% more memory of DIMM, the speed of slots of input-output is improved, the line of Smart Array controllers which are delivered with an option a write cache based on a flash memory with a capacity of 512 MB now is updated. Also It should be noted that  the ProLiant BL460c Gen8 servers provide more flexible opportunities using the FlexibleLOM HP adapter: with its help it is possible to configure server network so that the growing business needs  were satisfied without modifications of the equipment.

The increased performance, economy to 15–25% of power using new modules of the lowered energy consumption (1.35 V of LVDIMM) are among advantages of HP of ProLiant BL460c Gen8.

As a storage system the combination  of HP 3PAR   of 10400 and HP   3PAR 8400c is used.

With the level of 99.982% the data center TrustInfo which does not have analogs in Russia on set of technical characteristics and degree of security from technogenic catastrophes allows to support high rates of operational readiness. Infrastructure of an object has reservation according to scheme N+1 and meets standards of the industry standard of TIA/EIA-942 of category Tier III+.

At all stages of works on start and reconfiguration of cloud data center of network "YES!" specialists of Servionica gave to specialists of retailer full consulting support, helping to configure work of computing infrastructure as an optimal image. For example, they organized "transparent connection" of users of the company to the business and critical applications placed in a cloud. Thanks to it to employees "YES!", being in network of the company, it is not necessary to enter repeatedly passwords for an input into the ERP system. It is convenient to users and favorably affects their high-speed performance, and the procedure of authentication is reliably protected on the party of provider. Transfer in "cloud" including monitoring systems of computing infrastructure became other feature of the project: so it was also protected from possible failures.

The agreement SLA fixed the relations between the customer and provider: it is created based on practical work in a cloud, extremely accurately stipulates target indicators on the maximum response time and processings of a request, the solution of incidents, a frame of carrying out scheduled works and provides the round-the-clock support, considers requirements of retail chain stores "YES!" not only at a present stage of development, but also taking into account long-term growth: flexible scaling (availability of additional resources in any necessary volume), efficiency of selection of new resources, speed and professionalism of support and also existence the selected managers and accurate quality assurances of services of provider.

The network "YES!" enters the highly competitive market of the Russian retail. To attract and hold the client, especially in present hard time, we should be the best. Our network relied on implementation of advanced technologies in everything including in the field of IT. Start of cloud data center allows us to be fully confident in smooth operation of IT systems of the company so we can concentrate on a main goal – business growth", –Nikita Solovyov, the director of information technology of Freshmarket company noted.

Tasks of network "YES!" - fast entry into the market, dynamic growth and large-scale regional expansion – required the solution combining quick start of IT infrastructure, the minimum capital investments into IT and pro-active support of growth of retail chain stores. As shows experience of our cooperation, the cloud platform of eCloud is the optimal choice for such projects, allowing to ensure stable functioning and secure access to business applications, convenient management of the consumed resources, pro-active monitoring and a first line support", -Yaroslav Farobin, the head of cloud services and infrastructure solutions of Servionica (I-Teco Group) company noted.

Project Results

The first half a year of network functioning "YES!" in cloud DPC based on TrustInfo confirmed that on virtualization by company management it was relied truly. Creation of IT infrastructure on the IaaS model using the powerful eCloud platform based on the equipment of HP, from the first stages of growth of business provides to retail chain stores transparency of costs for IT and accuracy of accounting of the consumed resources. Transition to a cloud not only supported quick start of network, but also allowed to build effectively work of IT infrastructure, having provided the potential for further regional development of retail chain stores.