Top Reasons Retailers are Switching to SUSE Linux Enterprise
Overview
Retailing is a tough business. Profit margins are thinning and competitors are using technology to become more agile and provide more reliable service. So, can switching to a new operating system actually help you deal with these challenges and strengthen your competitive advantage? The answer is yes.
Here are the top reasons retailers are turning to the SUSE® Linux Enterprise platform from Novell. SUSE Linux Enterprise includes the leading operating systems for POS devices, in-store and back-office servers, and back-office desktops.
1. Lower Total Cost of Ownership
For retailers with hundreds of locations and thousands of POS devices, the savings from software licenses alone is enormous. In addition to the benefit of lower capital costs, retailers who switch to SUSE Linux Enterprise can also experience lower operational costs. Because of its advanced design, Linux requires less memory on the clients and a lower-end server in the back room than Windows, reducing the hardware investment required. SUSE Linux Enterprise is designed to run on all types of hardware platforms, including older hardware, so you can extend the life of your legacy systems. If you are running UNIX, switching to SUSE Linux Enterprise creates impressive savings. According to Burton Group, "Linux is 'good enough' for many roles that have traditionally been relegated to high-end, proprietary UNIX hardware and software solutions, yet it delivers a 10x benefit in areas from hardware and software costs to interoperability and openness."1
SUSE Linux Enterprise can also reduce network administration costs and improve operational efficiencies due to its advanced reliability and security.
Boscov's Department Stores Sees Real TCO
Boscov's started using Linux several years ago. Since then, the Reading, PA-based department store chain has consolidated servers and applications into a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server-based environment.
“The annual savings directly related to [Linux] implementation is my trump card," Roberts said, adding that "moving to Linux saved Boscov's $1 million in the first two years, with ongoing annual savings expected to be about $500,000. That figure could rise to $1 million per year as the retailer continues to port technologies to Linux.”
Overstock.com lowers Total Cost of Ownership
Overstock.com—the 6th largest online retailer—originally used HP-UX, but found the platform was not flexible enough to keep pace with its rapidly growing business.
“One of the benefits of Linux is that we do not have to buy these large, monolithic machines. We were able to buy very low-cost, Intel machines, such as Dell, IBM, and HP machines, that have 2 to 4 CPUs. By running Linux on them, we get much greater server power at a very low cost.”
2. Freedom From Vendor Lock-In
Another powerful motivator pushing retailers to consider Linux is that they feel uncomfortable putting all their eggs in one vendor's basket. Having mission-critical systems and data at the mercy of a single vendor's product roadmap and licensing strategy just doesn't make sense. Locking your business on a single platform from a monopolistic vendor places your systems—and business—at risk. Applications running on SUSE Linux Enterprise provide a new upgrade path for businesses that don't want to get locked into a pattern of forced upgrades and expensive licensing programs. For example, the Microsoft WEPOS license is locked to the device and non-transferable. This means that retailers who want to buy new hardware are forced to purchase a new WEPOS license through an OEM. With SUSE Linux Enterprise, you buy only the software and support you need—when you need it.
SUSE Linux Enterprise also gives retailers a stronger negotiating position when dealing with other vendors. Greater freedom and choice mean lower costs and higher margins.
Burlington Coat Factory Gets Freedom of Choice
Burlington looked at Microsoft Windows, as well as other UNIX alternatives, but wanted an operating system that wasn't tied to a single software or hardware vendor. The company took the recommendation of another software provider to move to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.
“Novell came in like a knight on a white horse. They were extremely responsive and addressed our 10 biggest issues right off the bat. SUSE Linux Enterprise was the only solution that allowed us to move forward with our chosen architecture.”
3. Greater System Reliability
Continuous uptime is critical in a retail environment—customers have little patience to wait in a checkout line while the cash register reboots. SUSE Linux Enterprise was designed from the ground up to run complex processes—quickly, without crashing. Its advanced computing techniques use processors more intelligently than older operating systems. And Linux runs critical functions in a way that prevents "buggy" programs from causing your computer to become unstable and crash. As a result, computers—both legacy and new—have longer uptimes, which improves service for your customers and lowers your administration costs.
McDonald's Germany Experiences Greater Uptime
With more than 30,000 restaurants around the globe and more than 1,200 in Germany alone, McDonald's is the undisputed market leader in the fast food sector. McDonald's makes use of state-of-the-art yet proven technologies that support business workflows in the best way possible.
“All in all, an enormous stability and availability is clearly evident. The implementation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server has resulted in uptimes of more than 400 days—interrupted only due to extensions on the hardware side. The superior scripting capability enables maximum flexibility for reacting to new challenges, enabling shorter implementation times.”
4. Stronger Security
For many retailers, Windows' security issues are a serious concern. There is a proven alternative for retailers. The strong security of Linux, like its reliability, comes from its advanced design. Unlike Windows, which typically gives applications and users access to the Windows kernel, SUSE Linux Enterprise creates a strong wall of separation between the kernel and users. Each layer of Linux has limited access to the others, which reduces the risk of unauthorized access to your system and data.
Burlington Coat Factory Sees Increased Stability and Security
“The SUSE Linux Enterprise systems in our retail stores are so stable they can run for six months or more without being rebooted, and we have yet to see a virus attack. Stability is crucial for these systems in order for our associates to provide top-notch customer service.”
5. Ease of Migration from UNIX to Linux
Linux is also a lower-cost alternative to UNIX. A collection of Intel- or AMD-based servers running SUSE Linux Enterprise Server can deliver more CPU horsepower per dollar than the larger UNIX systems. In some cases, the savings retailers achieve just by ending UNIX hardware and software contracts is enough to fund their entire Linux deployments. While SUSE Linux Enterprise Server frees you from the costly shackles of proprietary UNIX, the similarity between the UNIX and Linux operating environments makes migrating applications and training IT staff very manageable.
Overstock.com Sees Short Learning Curve for IT Staff
“We don't have 'official' training programs for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. We simply haven't needed one. The evolution of SUSE and YaST [server administration tool] almost eliminated the need for training of our IT staff. If we bring in UNIX administrators, they can find what they need in YaST and we don't need to retrain them.”
6. Established, Growing Linux "Ecosystem" of Retail Hardware, Software and Support Vendors
The ecosystem of hardware, application, consulting, training and support vendors for SUSE Linux Enterprise includes such retail leaders as IBM, NCR, Wincor Nixdorf and SAP Triversity and Oracle/360Commerce to name a few. In addition, you can easily run any Java / JavaPOS based applications on SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Service.
7. Common Platform for POS Devices, Servers and Desktops
The SUSE Linux Enterprise platform offers a common code base and single set of management tools across all products, including SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Service, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop. Being able to deploy a single operating system across your environment allows you to consolidate hardware and reduce management costs. Consolidating on SUSE Linux Enterprise allows a smaller staff to more easily administer a variety of systems, from store systems to servers and even mainframes, giving them more time for growth initiatives instead of maintenance.
Boscov's Department Stores Saves Money on IT Management
As Boscov's consolidated their various operating system platforms onto SUSE Linux Enterprise, they also consolidated IT support staff.
“Skill portability is becoming much more important. We used to have two separate operational units—one for servers and another for mainframes. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server allowed us to smash the groups together and begin to cross-pollinate their expertise.”
8. SUSE Linux Enterprise Provides the Flexibility and Freedom of Open Source
With SUSE Linux Enterprise, retailers get an open operating system that supports the open standards pervasive in retail environments today, such as JavaPOS and ARTS. It provides retailers the freedom to access the underlying source code, making it easier to tune their POS system to their individual needs. And it gives them freedom from the whims of proprietary vendors.
The Time is Right to Make the Switch to Novell's Linux Solutions for Retail
These are just some of the more significant reasons why retailers are making the move to SUSE Linux Enterprise for their POS, in-store and back-office servers. SUSE Linux Enterprise gives retailers the ability to lower hardware and software costs, increase reliability and flexibility, and simplify IT management.
Talk to us about Novell solutions for retail.
1 “Linux: ‘Good Enough’ for Specific Enterprise Roles,” Gary Hein, Application Platform Strategies, In Depth Research Overview, Burton Group, June 7, 2004.