Logistics Management Inc

Leveraging IT to Compete in a High Growth Environment

Background

Logistics Management Inc. (LMI), based in Memphis, Tennessee, provides comprehensive stock management and warranty services for major corporate partners in various electronics, PC hardware, and telecommunications industries. Services offered by LMI include handling of direct customer service and product deployment orders on behalf of their corporate partners, including maintenance of product inventory and parts management for all their partners' products. These activities are critical to the customer service activities of LMI's customers.

Challenge

Over time, LMI was faced with adapting to the growing requirements of their business partners, each of whom represented a different functional business model in support of their customer service needs. Because the existing applications were based on a 3GL, changes to the application required extensive new coding and ongoing recoding (maintenance) to retain the business integrity of the application. Combined with the various distributed functional business models present at LMI, the result was an inefficient development and maintenance environment which would jeopardize LMI's ability to sustain growth and leadership in their market.

Solution

LMI initiated a project in partnership with USoft, using USoft's Server/Client software toolset and Oracle's 7.0 relational database running on Data General 9500 and 5500 computers. The project is dedicated to totally reengineering LMI's existing systems architecture and business support systems. The new Server/Client business support system will replace the existing 3GL business-critical applications.

According to LMI's MIS Director, Donnie Steward, "The business model is the driving force behind a successful business system. A central, dynamic repository containing all the information required to develop a complete application is critical. For LMI, USoft Developer offered a combination of model driven definitions and a powerful object architecture in an environment that houses all aspects of a complete application definition. USoft's Server/Client software toolset is the only solution which allowed us to rapidly adapt our information systems to meet the changing needs of our customers with the confidence of knowing the application would work."

At the heart of this solution is USoft's server/client repository. As a centralized storage point for all characteristics of an application, the repository leverages USoft's object architecture for the productivity benefits gained through object re-use. Coupled with the iterative rapid application development nature of USoft Developer, this results in an environment highly conducive to the development and management of rapidly changing, yet predictable systems. In addition, the new systems would be driven by what the users of the system defined, not what IS professionals thought was needed.

USoft's open systems architecture also ensured that USoft applications complement and integrate other open technology-based solutions present within the enterprise. This has enabled the USoft product set (USoft Developer, USoft Batch Server, USoft ODBC Server) to interface naturally with other third-party products and external business systems present at LMI.

Benefits

LMI will be able to deploy the new system on time and meet the continuously growing service requirements of its customers. USoft Developer's iterative rapid application development methodology enabled the LMI project team to reengineer their business system in a matter of months. The typical time required for introducing new business functions has been reduced from three months to two weeks, including policy approvals.

Conclusion

The approach taken by LMI's MIS Director, Donnie Steward, is an example of how best to support the business with precious IS resources, yet still reengineer the business processes and implement streamlined business systems which cater to specific business requirements. USoft's Sever/Client software toolset enabled LMI to experience significant business growth while supporting increased customer service levels. By leveraging USoft's predictable, adaptable, and scalable Server/Client approach, LMI's IT infrastructure not only kept pace with their business, but enabled LMI to maintain their market leadership position.

USoft: The Server/Client Software Company

To investigate a partnership with USoft for developing and implementing server/client solutions, call toll-free at 1-800-For-USoft, or call one of our offices.
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