“It Was One Of The Smoothest Upgrades I’ve Ever Been Involved With. Every Time I Deal With SDP It’s Very Pleasant. They Are Knowledgeable And Easily Accessible. Source Data Is Probably The Best Business Partner I’ve Ever Worked With, And I’ve Worked With A Few Over The Years.”
Background
Since 1894 Dexter Laundry is a Midwestern manufacturer of washers, dryers and management systems to process laundry faster and more efficiently. Dexter Laundry is located in Fairfield, IA.
Unlocking Performance = POWER9 To POWER10 Migration
Dexter Laundry embarked on a critical migration journey from POWER9 to POWER10 in response to business growth and evolving needs. The decision was driven by the need for increased storage capacity, changes in business dynamics, and challenges posed by supply chain constraints.
Andy Robb, Dexter’s Programmer Analyst, summarizes, “We were getting uncomfortably close to the data storage limit, and with us storing more historical data and new transactions we needed to upgrade. It would also give us more functionality and more flexibility to users to enhance our overall productivity.
“We added newer features to our Infor XA MAPICs software to help us deal with parts constraints. We needed to track our work-in-process subassemblies that were incomplete with parts that had yet to be delivered.
“We were also experiencing delays from weeks to months getting new desktop workstations and servers. Because of these constraints, we ordered our new IBM POWER10 to be received in early 2023 so we would not have any delays when we needed it.”
Complex Challenges And Goals
The complexity of Dexter’s operations, including managing diverse supply chain constraints and supporting multiple entities, necessitated a strategic approach to IT infrastructure.
The decision to migrate was further influenced by the need to address parts delays, turnover in IT staff, and the imperative to respond to management directives promptly.
Andy elaborates, “A few factors had made the upgrade process drawn out. Primarily, we had a lack of manpower that allowed me to focus primarily on the upgrade. In addition to enhancement to our Infor XA, management had additional needs.”
Partnering With Source Data Products
“The migration of our Infor XA applications from our POWER9 to our new POWER10 was quick and simple.
“Mark Breisacher, leading the charge, demonstrated a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Despite the challenges faced by Dexter, Mark provided invaluable support, ensuring a seamless migration process. From pre-migration backup to migration to the final backup, the entire process was completed in approximately 12 hours.
“Mark is very knowledgeable. He takes the project, and if you have your ducks in a row, Mark is ready to go and takes you across the finish line.”
Remarkable Performance Boost With POWER10
The transition to POWER10 brought tangible improvements in performance. The POWER10 showcased a remarkable speed increase compared to POWER9, with CPU utilization dropping from 90%-95% to a mere 18%. Tasks that previously took 4-5 minutes now complete in just 2-3 minutes. This noticeable enhancement in speed was appreciated by both management and end-users.
Andy points out, “Speed was never really an issue with our POWER9, but management and users have noticed a large increase in speed with the POWER10. The 9105-41B is definitely a much faster machine.”
Smooth And Swift Execution
Mark Breisacher’s knowledge and efficiency were evident throughout the migration process. Dexter experienced one of the smoothest migrations, even with the challenges posed by business demands on IT and staff turnover.
Andy says, “In hindsight what we would have done is do the test run, take things back to factory settings so that we didn’t have to deal with some of the software issues after the migration. Otherwise it was very smooth.
“It was one of the smoothest upgrades I’ve ever been involved with.”
Andy Robb Recommends Source Data Products
Andy Robb wholeheartedly recommends Source Data Products. The positive experience with SDP is attributed to their proficiency, quick response times and unparalleled knowledge.
Andy emphasizes that, among several IBM Business Partners encountered over the years, SDP stands out as the best.
“I would recommend Source Data Products. Every time I have dealt with SDP it has been very pleasant. They are knowledgeable and easily accessible. Source Data is probably the best business partner I’ve ever worked with, and I’ve worked with a few over the years.”