SOLETRADER
Learn how premium shoe retailer SOLETRADER improved application performance to stay at the forefront of customer experience.
APPLICATION PERFORMANCE IS KEY TO SUCCESS
SOLETRADER operates in a sector where competition and customer expectations are rising sharply.
Research shows consumers expect to wait less than 2 seconds for an app or webpage to load. Any longer than that and not only will they abandon their purchase, less than one-fifth are ever likely to return.
To help attract, convert and retain customers and to cement its position online, as well as on the high street, SOLETRADER needed to create a more resilient, scalable infrastructure to ensure customer satisfaction every visit.
x 0
Faster speed of core application once IBM Power Systems were deployed in the CSI PowerCloud
0 %
Drop in conversion rates for every second it takes a webpage to load – speed is critical to success
0 ms
Online customers are more likely to go a competitor site if it is faster by just 250 milliseconds
challenge
In SOLETRADER’s real-time reality, not only do systems need to be near-instant, they must also be reliable.
According to research by Gartner in 2014, website downtime costs companies an average of $5,600 per minute. This estimate increased in 2016 when a report from the Ponemon Institute placed the average cost of downtime at nearly $9,000 per minute.
It meant that both agility and stability were required to keep up with demand for new footwear styles and the need to manage the increased workload of rapid product development cycles.
SOLUTION
Moving from the limitations of their on-premises servers, CSI created a robust and agile infrastructure through its PowerCloud solution.
Harnessing IBM i in the cloud created burstable, high performance computing for a more resilient, scalable infrastructure.
This delivered 24/7/365 performance and reliability – ensuring customer satisfaction every visit.
Working with CSI has been very valuable for our business, and for the level of service we provide to our customers. The move to CSI’s PowerCloud has helped us stay agile and keep one step ahead of our rivals.
Marcel Bordon, CEO – SOLETRADER
outcomes
Critical core applications now run x50 times faster in CSI’s PowerCloud environment than they did on-premises.
This performance boost has increased internal productivity and inventory efficiencies.
It also ensures customers can access the styles they want in store and online.
SOLETRADER’s partnership with CSI has meant that its revenues increased against a backdrop of five store closures and a costly store upgrade programme across its entire footprint.
About our client
SOLETRADER is a global shoe and accessories retailer, and part of a group founded in 1946.
It operates 28 UK standalone stores and 4 department store concessions, and is growing its multi-channel online presence through its international websites.
Unlocking opportunity for our clients
Data Growth
Leading Risk Manager Boosts Performance
Learn how a market-leading risk management firm powered its weather analytics platforms with a focus on HPC (high-performance computing).
Cyber Security
A Leading University
Learn how an established London University finally found peace of mind in dealing with cyber threats.
Cloud Adoption
Buckinghamshire Building Society
Discover how Buckinghamshire Building Society upgraded its security capability in the cloud.
Ready to talk?
Get in touch today to discuss your IT challenges and goals. No matter what’s happening in your IT environment right now, discover how our experts can help your business discover its competitive edge.
