Greif Saves $1 Million in IT Costs with SSA Global Solutions

Greif, Inc. a worldwide leader in industrial packaging and a long-standing customer of SSA Global, a leading provider of extended enterprise solutions and services, has established an information technology consolidation strategy based on SSA Global enterprise solutions and the IBM eServer i5 hardware platform.

Greif, which has over 160 operating locations in more than 40 countries, has standardized on SSA Global core and extended enterprise solutions to consolidate a disparate IT infrastructure resulting from numerous acquisitions in recent years. The IT strategy is part of Greif's overall corporate transformation initiative to improve the packaging and services they provide to customers and simultaneously reduce costs.

"Following strategic acquisitions that doubled our size and gave us a worldwide presence, the consolidation to SSA Global ERP solutions in North America has already saved Greif more than $1 million a year in IT costs and makes us a more agile company," said Don Huml, chief financial officer, Greif, Inc. "Going forward, SSA Global's commitment to converge and modernize its ERP platforms will make it even easier for Greif to maintain migration paths and allow for low-cost upgrades. Furthermore, SSA Global's strategic alliance with IBM allowed us to immediately consolidate our IT infrastructure during this important transformation."

Greif is leveraging the SSA Global and IBM Strategic Alliance to build a framework for consolidating its data centers. The company's IT consolidation strategy aligns their two SSA Global ERP systems on a single iSeries i5 platform using both i5/OS and AIX to produce a leaner infrastructure that reduces IT complexity and costs. Greif purchased the IBM eServer i5 system through Sirius, an IBM Premier Business Partner and SSA Global Strategic Alliance Partner.

"IBM recognizes the strength and importance of our Business Partner and Strategic Alliance programs especially within the eServer iSeries brand. A company like Greif requires strong support and innovative technology," said Mike Borman, eServer iSeries General Manager, IBM.

Based on an independent evaluation of its enterprise software needs, Greif determined that the SSA Global extended portfolio of solutions is the right fit for its business transformation. Greif will protect its investment in SSA ERP solutions to drive further value for its enterprise and has identified SSA Supply Chain Management, SSA Customer Relationship Management and SSA eBusiness solutions to achieve new competitive advantage.

Graeme Cooksley, executive vice president of SSA Global said, "SSA Global strives to protect its customers' investments by continuing to improve our core ERP, while integrating extended enterprise solutions. This will enable Greif to dramatically lower their total cost of ownership while they achieve their transformation objectives."