ElectronicPartner collaborates with SUSE to optimize cost and performance, whilst meeting customer needs

“SUSE Linux simply runs without any issues and keeps our business going from strength to strength.” Matthias Assmann, CIO, ElectronicPartner Handel SE.

As one of Europe’s leading consumer electronics buying groups, ElectronicPartner Handel SE relies on efficiency, agility and smooth logistics to win and retain price-sensitive customers.

Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic ElectronicPartner’s business imperative was to compete on price but also to protect its profit margins. To do this required a focus on efficiency and supply chain management optimization, which prompted a move to SAP S/4HANA.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) for SAP Applications was selected as the platform to support the move from SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA. This decision was based on it offering the stability and performance needed to support finance, logistics, supply chain and partner management processes and its ability to use and reassign server resources dynamically during and after the migration. It was also a cost-effective option that provided the perfect foundation for mission-critical SAP applications on IBM Power. The fast, high-quality support provided by SUSE and IBM clinched the deal.

Optimizing cost and performance

Thanks to SAP S/4HANA on SLES for SAP Applications and IBM Power Servers, ElectronicPartner has benefited from improved staff productivity, with key tasks being completed in less than half the time that they were previously.

The new solution unlocks insights through instant analytics on 90 million data records, allowing favorable negotiation of prices and volumes with suppliers and creating competitive advantage.

Post-deployment the infrastructure has delivered cost efficiency through its ability to better balance workload and compute resources as well as ensuring reliability, given that SLES for SAP Applications is optimized for SAP software.

The improved scalability of the solution helps ElectronicPartner to continuously optimize supply chains, manage partner relationships effectively, and streamline logistics to offer consumers low prices across a wide range of products.

Building on the solid foundation of SLES for SAP Applications, IBM Power and SAP S/4HANA, ElectronicPartner already has plans to transform more core business processes to unlock further efficiencies, increase availability, enhance flexibility and improve security.

Click here to find out more about how ElectronicPartner optimizes cost and performance, whilst meeting customer needs in a competitive trading environment.