Computer Business Company Limited

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Platform Solution Centre solves Credit Company Providers proof of concept issues

"Seeing is believing"

It is one thing to promote a smooth approach to systems downsizing but quite another to convince a customer it will work. Especially one used to risk management like a credit company. But that is what Computer Business Company Limited, a major supplier of credit solutions, did with help from Fujitsu's Platform Solution Center.

Successful validation testing under actual environmental conditions, using the proposed PRIMERGY and ETERNUS equipment and specific tools, successfully convinced the clients that system downsizing was indeed possible and practical.

"Our concern was to remove uncertainty regarding the new system, and following migration ensure reliability, stability, and response, were maintained at the same levels as our mainframe."

Based in Asahikawa, Hokkaido Japan, Computer Business Company Limited has over 40 years experience in system architecture service provision for public and private organizations. One of their recent major ventures has been the development of system downsizing solutions for credit companies. They believed that cost reductions and efficient system operation could be achieved using their customized tools. But with systems reliability an essential lifeline in finance companies, they needed a way to verify the reliability and stability of the new system and convince users, without spending a fortune. The answer was found in the Platform Solution Center (PSC) where Fujitsu PRIMERGY and ETERNUS products could be configured into the required highly reliable system for business application support and where the process could then be fully verified.

Improvement in data usability by migration to a client-server system

Computer Business Company Limited has achieved a good reputation as an eminent systems integrator, providing application systems design/construction services, in the distribution, transportation, and finance industries. "As a subsidiary company of the Asahikawa Electric Railway Company, we have made efforts to develop transportation management systems, with our bus management system being adopted by bus companies nationwide. Our approach is based on close customer contact and careful on-site analysis. This ensures the best possible systems based on all voiced requirements," said Mr. Shimaoka, Vice President of the Commercial Business Group at Computer Business.

Since 1977, Computer Business has been running a mainframe based credit retail management system. Entrusted to take care of a variety of credit companies' system operations, including local credit providers such as Nissenren in Kumamoto, Hokkaido, they wished to reduce costs. Computer Business started converting its systems to client server operation 2 years ago. The running costs borne by the credit companies using the mainframe system had been steadily increasing. In particular, cost and time was needed to extract card users' demographic data such as age, sex and location. This was essential for business analysis by the credit companies. More recently there had also been increased requests for card user's payments records. Required in bankruptcy proceedings these can stretch back over many years. With this background, the construction of the client server system called Credit Total System (CRETOS) was started.

Key Introduction Points

Guaranteed reliability and stability of system

The advantages of migrating to a client server system and operating using CRETOS were clearly visible to Computer Business. The clients (credit companies) would more easily obtain data for business analysis, without having to worry about costs. Batch processing and referencing would also become faster. "Our concern was to remove any uncertainty as to whether reliability and stability could be maintained after migration and how response could be secured." Mr. Sakaguchi said.

System reliability and stability are two of the most important factors for a finance company. Before any business discussion could take place on migration to the client server system, it was necessary to come up with validation results that clearly showed unchanged or better stability/reliability. This would have to be based on the expected operating environment of each credit company, using the proposed designed specifications for the AP server and DB server (Oracle10g RAC). At issue were potentially huge costs and the high levels of technical skill required to do the work. To overcome this Fujitsu's PSC was chosen as the validation center. It had the ability to handle equivalent or greater load situations and to validate stability in operation for each of the different system variants of each client company.

Validation at the PSC

User's worries could be completely removed using the reliability validation tests with remote supervision

During the validation tests, undertaken between September 2005 and February 2006, various servers in the PSC in Hamamatsucho, Tokyo were configured to the requirements of the different credit company clients. These were then connected to the systems at Computer Business via internet VPN.
This allowed all testing to be carried out remotely. Validation testing was performed as follows:
1. Satisfaction levels of the various applications (inquiries, searches, registrations) were predetermined
2. Response times and processing results of each would be checked
3. Reasons why any target satisfactory level was not reached would be ascertained
4. Adjustments would be made to clear the targeted satisfaction levels.
Validation test results were submitted in report form to the credit companies. The recording function of the system management middleware (Systemwalker Live Help) was used to confirm the response by enabling recording and replay of screen operation. This method of verification was evaluated as "very easy to understand" by the users.

Credit Total System, project leader Mr. Shikanai Tadashi said "In the setup of Oracle10g RAC, we discovered points that needed to be adjusted during system setup. The entire operation was carried out smoothly due to Fujitsu's flexibility and contributions from PSC and Oracle 10g technical staff."

Expectations and Future Expansion

"To spread these systems to other credit companies nationwide"

Satisfied with the results of the validation test at PSC, three credit companies have already installed the client-server "Credit Total System" (CRETOS). Mr. Kitaura Nariki said the following, "Over a three year period, we plan to shift all the other credit companies' systems to this client server system. Then using migration tools, requested to meet the needs of our clients for the extraction of data for analysis and compilation, we also intend to expand our business with further Win-Win relationships."

The hardware used for the CRETOS system consists of Fujitsu PRIMERGY RX300 servers and ETERNUS SX300 storage systems. Computer Business Company Limited and Fujitsu will be working together to expand this business as partners. "With Fujitsu's nationwide business ability and proven "Fujitsu Quality" regarding reliability and stability, we intend to propose and expand our Credit Total System (CRETOS) to other credit companies nationwide." Mr. Shimaoka said.

CRETOS which is built on highly reliable hardware and long business experience will continue to contribute strongly to the advanced computerization of the credit industry.

Computer Business Company Limited - Overview
Location: 4-2-14 Higashi Ichijyo, Midorigaoka, Asahikawa-shi, 078-8801, Hokkaido
Established: June 1963
Capital: 125 million yen
Employees: 219 (June 2006)
Business Profile: Systems integration, IT solutions, software, computing services, hardware sales, onsite support

Homepage: Computer Business Company Limited Homepage

Largest validation facility in Japan – Platform Solution Center

At over 3,600 sq meters the Platform Solution Center is possibly the largest pre-sales validation facility in Asia. Based upon Fujitsu's TRIOLE IT infrastructure model it provides prior validation and evaluation of the latest platform products. The 300 technical staff also offers a one stop solution for system support and system consultation. Validation, performance demonstrations and testing are also possible using the same machines proposed to customers. Its aim is to support the construction of the best possible systems for each client's business.

Homepage of Platform Solution Center

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