As Korea’s number-one pharmaceutical company, Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is under constant pressure to maintain its leadership position. The management of Dong-A decided that its aging mainframe system was costing too much in information technology (IT) infrastructure costs, and that this was preventing the company from taking advantage of the benefits of Internet-based operations. To modernize its IT operations, Dong-A decided to migrate to an infrastructure based on the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 operating system.
Customer Profile
Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. of Korea began operations in 1932 as a small wholesaler of pharmaceuticals and sanitary products. Through its concerted focus on building a healthy, disease-free society, Dong-A has grown in both scope and size, developing a variety of pharmaceutical products that it sells to 14,000 clinics, 250 general hospitals, 20,000 pharmacies, 7,000 dental clinics, and 300 wholesalers across Korea. Dong-A is now Korea’s largest pharmaceutical company.
By the end of its multiphase implementation project, Dong-A will have installed Windows 2000 Professional on all of its 500 desktop systems. The company will be running Windows 2000 Server on six Compaq ProLiant server systems, two of which will be clustered, running Microsoft SQL ServerTM 7.0 as well as the company’s main database. Two other servers will be running the company’s line-of-business applications; one will be running the Active DirectoryTM service, a major feature of Windows 2000 Server; and the last will be used for backup and development.
Dong-A will rely on Windows 2000 to handle every aspect of its business: research and development, manufacturing, sales, human resources, finance, budget, and MIS.
Mobile Support of Windows 2000 a Key Factor
Dong-A’s revenue stream is driven by the company’s sales representatives. Every day, these representatives receive orders, issue invoices, meet or talk with customers, and coordinate with Dong-A’s manufacturing, finance, and distribution teams. Information flow is crucial for the sales reps to achieve their goals.
"Windows 2000 Professional has excellent support for mobile computers, and we believe that giving our sales reps mobile computing tools will greatly enhance their sales abilities," said Jong-Kul Kim, the Windows 2000 project team leader at Dong-A.
Mobility—combined with the friendly user interface of Windows 2000 Professional, the ability for Dong-A to take advantage of Internet and intranet technologies, and access to Microsoft Office applications—is expected to help sales reps find and use corporate information more efficiently to increase sales revenues. At the same time, the built-in security features of Windows 2000 will ensure that reps don’t compromise sensitive information while taking advantage of their mobility.
Government-Sponsored Efforts Reinforce Need for Modern IT
The Korean government plans to form a nationwide Logistics Union to provide a common product distribution service for all of the nation’s pharmaceutical companies. The idea is that each company can then focus more intently on its own development, manufacturing, and sales activities.
"We needed a more open technology platform in preparation for our participation in the Logistics Union," said Mr. Kim. "Windows 2000 will provide tight integration among our internal processes, as well as with external entities such as the Logistics Union and customers."
In addition to its revenue leadership in the Korean pharmaceutical industry, Dong-A also plans to use Windows 2000 to enhance its technological leadership. While reaping important business benefits, the company expects Windows 2000 to save significant costs in maintenance, operations, and the longevity of its IT environment. For Dong-A, Windows 2000 is the ideal prescription for improved performance and lower costs.
Software and Services
Windows® 2000 Server and Professional with Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0
Office
SQL ServerTM 7.0
Visual Studio®
