Mytel is a wholesale office products company and GNM is a provider of business services (including accounts receivable, financing and order fulfillment) for independently owned and operated sales companies in the office products marketing industry. With the S2K Enterprise for Distribution, and simultaneous IBM Power Systems implementations, the companies are now equipped with the tools to retire their obsolete HP 3000 server, says a press release.

Pam Tucker, IT Director, GNM/Mytel, explained, "We understood that GNM and Mytel needed a technology solution to replace our aging HP 3000, while providing access to the real-time information required to improve customer service and eliminate our outdated paper tracking system. S2K for Distribution has achieved this goal—placing key information literally at our fingertips. Specifically, VAI's customer relationship management (CRM) software, with its centralized database, allows us to see and understand all customer interactions in a way that was simply not possible before."

GNM and Mytel were aware that its HP 3000, which had served the companies well for 25 years, was no longer a viable platform for achieving the streamlined operations needed to remain competitive in today's tough business climate. GNM and Mytel were committed to finding software to run on the Power Systems and S2K Enterprise for Distribution, which is designed to run exclusively on the platform and fit the companies' functionality requirements.

Notably, the Culver City facility is also the operating headquarters for Visage Fine Art, Inc., a fine art distribution company that services cruise lines, and the Compassion for Animals Foundation, Inc., a non-profit foundation that is committed to ensuring the welfare of animals worldwide. Both will install the S2K solution later this year. Luke Heaton, Project Director, VAI, said, "Implementing S2K 5.0 will provide GNM and Mytel with a powerful, flexible, scalable software solution to meet the companies' growing needs."