Turkish LCD television conglomerate Zorlu has extended its seven-year agreement with IBM to manage its increasingly complex and expanding IT infrastructure for further five more years.
Under the agreement, IBM will provide Zorlu with a single technical infrastructure that will enable the Zorlu to manage IT services for its 50 companies across 50 separate locations.
The technical infrastructure will include server, database and application management, end-user support including helpdesk and desktop standardisation and network maintenance.
IBM will include a pair of IBM POWER7-based systems, the IBM Power 750 Express and IBM Power 720 Express, and a dozen IBM System x servers, three of which will feature VMware virtualisation technology to help extend processing power and better utilise computing capacity, as part of the agreement.
Zorlu companies will be able to maximise computing resources according to workloads, by integrating the heterogeneous systems at every layer of the technology stack.
To provide the Zorlu companies with improved flexibility, increased service levels and lower operating costs, IBM will combine advanced server and storage virtualisation with new intelligent system management tools.
Zorlu Group CIO Hamza Cihan Sari said the agreement with IBM will enable Zorlu Group to become more competitive and improve business performance, while reducing operating costs.
"By enabling faster and more efficient rollout of new services, our employees will focus on adding real value to Zorlu’s clients in Turkey and abroad," said Cihan Sari.
IBM Turkey Country general manager Michel Charouk said since 2006, IBM has been supporting Zorlu Group using advanced technologies to ensure they are well-equipped to meet the increasing market challenge.
"Now, IBM’s smarter computing approach will provide Zorlu with even more dynamic and flexible environment where IT assets and resources are managed effectively and are in line with Zorlu’s business priorities," said Charouk.
