Surebridge Inc., a Lexington, Mass.-based ASP, yesterday announced that it will develop and host marketing and e-commerce services for PUMA AG, a global footwear, apparel and accessories company.
Surebridge reports that it has completed development enhancements to PUMA’s Internet storefront designed to allow the company to scale its operation to support the significant increase of traffic to its online store.
“Traffic to PUMA’s online store had increased exponentially — business tripled in 2001 — and PUMA was quickly outgrowing its current e-commerce system,” said Peter Kim, international marketing manager for interactive business, PUMA AG. Kim said PUMA’s goal was to scale its operation without adding staff costs. “We decided to partner with an application outsourcer, which was more economical than using a traditional development house and starting from scratch.”
PUMA uses Microsoft’s Commerce Server 2000 for its Web store, which offers 300 styles of shoes and 600 styles of apparel and attracts approximately 200,000 visitors each month, according to the company. The enhancements implemented by Surebridge are designed to improve the site’s functionality and performance and reduce maintenance requirements.
In addition to hosting the application, Surebridge reports that it is also managing the Microsoft SQL Server database that stores information and content for the eCommerce site.
“PUMA considered a number of options, but recognized that application outsourcing is a cost-effective alternative to investing in additional staff, software and hardware,” said Joe Nicholson, vice president of operations, Surebridge Inc.
Surebridge Takes the Patrol Express Lane
Last week, Surebridge and Houston-based BMC Software Inc. , an infrastructure independent software vendor (ISV) announced that Surebridge has deployed Patrol Express, a solution designed to allow service providers to deliver end-to-end infrastructure monitoring and improve customer (see BMC Lets Service Providers Host It Themselves).
The companies reported Surebridge installed the product in one day and within two days of implementation, Patrol Express was monitoring 200 servers across 62 different Surebridge accounts, providing service level performance and availability monitoring. Patrol Express is based on agentless technolgy, which means no installation is required on devices being monitored.
By providing service monitoring of its customer’s server, network and application infrastructure, Surebridge reports that Patrol Express allows it to consolidate point monitoring solutions, helping to reduce its operating costs.
“To ensure customer satisfaction, we need to manage and monitor those environments in a cost effective manner with the latest world-class technology, and Patrol Express delivers on multiple fronts,” said Mark Clayman, director of hosting at Surebridge.
Surebridge is listed by ASPnews as a Top 20 Service Provider. BMC Software is an ASPnews Top 30 Enabler.
Do you have a comment or question about this article or the ASP industry in general? Speak out in the ASP Discussion Forum.
