CBP drives success using optimized, scalable IT infrastructure
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CBP, an independent insurance consultant based in France, has optimized its IT infrastructure with IBM solutions to support its expansion into international markets. Utilizing IBM Power Systems and storage technology, CBP has improved operational efficiency, reducing storage space needs by 40% and backup times significantly. The new scalable infrastructure allows for rapid implementation of new services while ensuring data security and management, positioning CBP for continued growth in new countries.
CBP drives success using optimized, scalable IT infrastructure
- 1. IBM Systems & Technology Group Insurance Smarter Computing CBP drives success using optimized, scalable IT infrastructure Founded in 1990 and based in Nantes, France, CBP is an independent Overview consultant and service provider. The company provides creditor insurance and loans for individuals and businesses. For example, in The need partnership with France’s leading lettings agency, CBP has recently CBP identified an opportunity to replicate its successful business model in other launched insurance against loss of income for people taking out new European countries. Negotiations with tenancy agreements. Its services include consulting, actuarial analysis, new distributor customers are under and processing and administration. Also operating in Barcelona, non-disclosure agreements, and when Madrid (Spain) and Milan (Italy), CBP employed more than 500 people successful, growth can be explosive. The IT department has very little advance and achieved EUR 108.8 million sales in 2010. CBP handles some notice of new workload, which requires 3 million correspondence items annually and 1 million calls, paying out flexible, scalable IT. daily more than EUR 2.5 millions in claims’ compensations. The solution IBM® Global Technology Services – Preparing for international expansion Integrated Technology Services designed CBP decided to replicate its successful business model in international a new IT infrastructure solution based on IBM Power Systems™ and IBM System markets. Its strategic objective is to further business development in Storage®. Europe, building on the achievements that have led to its reputation The benefit and growth in France. CBP has reduced its storage floor space requirements by 40 percent and The company’s business model places IT as a major piece of the cut energy requirements by more than backbone for performance and growth, enabling the company to sell 35 percent. Additionally, the solution has more products and services through more channels at a lower cost than achieved a reduction in data backup times from over six hours to around two. the distributor it serves. Negotiations with new distributor customers The IBM solution provides scalability, are under non-disclosure agreements, and when successful, growth can security and integrity, and enables CBP to be explosive. The IT department has very little advance notice of new meet its ambitions to grow the business throughout Europe by replicating a workload, which requires flexible, scalable IT. standard business model supported by optimized IT infrastructure. Data from each distributor’s customers must be totally isolated and secured. Winning a new customer requires that new services and IT solutions must be put in place rapidly and with the least possible disruption. Selecting IBM CBP engaged IBM Global Technology Services – Integrated Technology Services to provide implementation, maintenance and consulting services for a new IT infrastructure that would embed scalability into the design and handle very large processing volumes.
- 2. IBM Systems & Technology Group Insurance Smarter Computing The IBM team created a solution based on two IBM Power 570 servers Designed for Data and six IBM BladeCenter H systems, containing 68 JS12 Express blade • CBP is now ideally placed to leverage servers, all running the IBM i operating system and VMware software. the high-performance planning For information storage, CBP selected IBM System Storage DS8800 capabilities of IBM DB2® and IBM FileNet® to store, manage and with IBM 400/800GB LTO-3 tape drives, IBM Ultrium® Generation 4 analyze large volumes of data, and (LTO-4) drives and IBM LTO-5 drives. develop forecasts to gain insight into foreign markets. This software has CBP runs a suite of IBM software for system and information the potential to help CBP create new service and product offerings to win management, including IBM DB2, IBM WebSphere® MQ, and IBM additional business. FileNet Content Manager. Tuned to the Task • High-value business data is stored The Power 570 servers provide the core IT infrastructure for data on the IBM System Storage DS8800 processing and back-office business administration. IBM BladeCenter system, processed by IBM Power JS12 Express blade servers run the company’s critical web applications, servers. Interactive web and online including authorization exchange processes that enable approval for insurance agent tasks are processed on IBM BladeCenter, offering rapid loans. scale-out capabilities in cases of massive growth. The IBM team configured the DB2 data server solution to store all the Managed with Cloud Technologies CBP customer data. WebSphere MQ software provides integration • CBP is positioned to take advantage between CBP’s administrative and financial processes and its customers. of private cloud technologies to design FileNet Content Manager provides centralized document management a training platform for employees, which would assist business growth for CBP customer requests and incidents. without concern for the underlying IT infrastructure. IBM software automates Enjoying the benefits data integration, exchange and execution services. CBP has consolidated all its customer data to the IBM System Storage DS8800 system, and analyzes huge databases to derive precious Driving Innovation financial and operational data, such as revenue, margin and insight into • By creating a scalable, optimized IT infrastructure shared by all its customer trends. business units, CBP is able to meet its objective of replicating and expanding The IBM System Storage DS8800 offers massive capacity and its successful business model in new scalability, packing in almost 90 percent more drives than typical markets and new countries. storage devices in the same frame footprint. CBP has reduced its storage floor space requirements by 40 percent and cut energy requirements by more than 35 percent. Additionally, the solution has achieved a reduction in data backup times from over six hours to around two. When CBP launches new operations, for example in Spain, the core business model can be replicated while the IT infrastructure scales smoothly and invisibly. For new products, such as a property rental (rather than property ownership) insurance product, CBP is unable to forecast the market size and how quickly it will grow. With the impressive scalability and flexibility provided by the IBM System Storage DS8800, Power servers and BladeCenter combination, CBP can handle enormous growth with no need to re-engineer its back-end systems.
- 3. IBM Systems & Technology Group Insurance Smarter Computing Internally, CBP has optimized its workflows by enabling a paperless office environment. The automated document handling service Solution Components provided by FileNet Content Manager has improved the quality Software of underwriting and claims handling, and automated information • IBM® DB2® integration has increased reliability and reduced the costs of data • IBM WebSphere® MQ • IBM FileNet® Content Manager exchange with customers and partners. • IBM i • VMware Based on open systems standards, the IBM solution meets CBP’s needs Servers for easy integration with external clients’ infrastructure. The IBM • IBM Power® 570 System i platform provides exceptional stability, particularly when • IBM BladeCenter® H Chassis supported by the IBM BladeCenter server extension. • IBM BladeCenter JS12 Express • IBM System Storage® DS8800 Importantly, the solution provides availability, integrity, and privacy, Services including a full disaster recovery solution. • IBM Global Technology Services As Christophe de Maupeou, IT Manager at CBP concludes, “The IBM team approached the project with a true sense of focus that gave us complete trust in the work that was being done. Our partnership with “The IBM team IBM will allow our teams to further fuel the growth of the CBP Group approached the project in France and the rest of the world.” with a true sense of focus that gave us complete For more information To learn more about smarter computing from IBM and how we can trust in the work that help you integrate, automate, protect and transform your IT, contact was being done. Our your IBM sales representative or IBM business partner, or visit: partnership with IBM ibm.com/smartercomputing will allow our teams to further fuel the growth of the CBP Group in France and the rest of the world.” —Christophe de Maupeou, IT Manager, CBP
- 4. © Copyright IBM Corporation 2011 IBM France Centre Relations Clients 110 boulevard de la Salle F-45760 Boigny-sur-Bionne France Produced in France January 2012 All Rights Reserved IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, DB2, WebSphere, FileNet, Power, Power Systems, BladeCenter and System Storage are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. A current list of other IBM trademarks is available on the Web at “Copyright and trademark information” at: ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml. References in this publication to IBM products, programs or services do not imply that IBM intends to make these available in all countries in which IBM operates. Any reference to an IBM product, program or service is not intended to imply that only IBM’s product, program or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product, program or service may be used instead. All customer examples cited represent how some customers have used IBM products and the results they may have achieved. Actual environmental costs and performance characteristics will vary depending on individual customer configurations and conditions. IBM hardware products are manufactured from new parts, or new and used parts. In some cases, the hardware product may not be new and may have been previously installed. Regardless, IBM warranty terms apply. This publication is for general guidance only. Photographs may show design models. Please Recycle POC03084-FREN-01