Longs Drugs Selects Intira as Its Outsourcing Provider for Critical e-Retailing Applications
PLEASANTON, Calif.--March 12, 2001-- Fortune 500 Company Outsources Critical Business Applications Targeted to Expand Service Offering and Enhance Customer Experience
Intira Corporation today announced a multi-year contract to provide outsourced e-Retailing infrastructure services for Longs Drugs Stores Corporation (NYSE: LDG), the sixth largest drug store chain in North America. Intira will support Longs` critical e-business applications which provide customers with e-fills(TM), an online prescription ordering and fulfillment system, health-related tools and more than 27 million pages of online content. For Longs, Intira will design, build, deploy and manage high-performance infrastructure solutions through its industry-leading Netsourcing services.
"A primary goal for Longs is 100% customer satisfaction and we believe a compelling online experience is key to achieving it," said Linda Rossi, director of Internet technology services at Longs Drugs Stores. "Our e-Retailing strategy has been established to help us reach our business objectives. We believe Intira is the right partnership for this endeavor because of the company`s proven track record of supporting complex, mission-critical e-business applications."
Longs Drugs is building a world-class e-Retailing business infrastructure and integrating it with its brick and mortar pharmacies. Longs` e-Retailing strategy is designed to achieve several things: provide its customers with similar off- and on-line offerings as well as one consistent "look and feel" to create synergies between its stores and Web site; enhance existing customer relationships and build new ones with its added convenience and service; expand operating capacity to meet forecasted growth in prescription volume; provide 24/7 customer service; and provide a multi-channel offering. Longs` on-line presence includes the ability to order and purchase prescriptions. Future services will include the ability to purchase health and wellness related merchandise, as well as access wellness-related tools such as a pregnancy diary and fitness center.
Longs Drugs chose Intira after evaluating other infrastructure outsourcing vendors. Key criteria for selecting Intira include Fortune 500 data center reliability; security; technical expertise in HPUX platforms; process-oriented approach to maintaining availability and a simplified and comprehensive single service level agreement (SLA). Intira`s Netsourcing services backed by its SLA will guarantee uptime for Longs` e-business applications, enabling Longs Drugs to consistently deliver a robust set of services to its valued customers.
Through a Deloitte Consulting and Intira alliance announced today (see companion press release on Intira and Deloitte Consulting alliance), Longs Drugs will benefit from a complete end-to-end outsourced solution, enabling them to focus on their core business competencies. Longs Drugs is the newest customer to take advantage of the comprehensive services offered by the Deloitte Consulting and Intira alliance. Deloitte Consulting provides application development and integration services to support Longs` e-Retailing strategy.
Intira is focused on providing high-end infrastructure services through a seamlessly integrated and directly controlled infrastructure and operations management system. Intira does not subcontract any component of its Netsourcing solutions to a third party; thereby maintaining direct accountability over the entire Netsourcing infrastructure. As a result, customers like Longs Drugs trust Intira to deliver guaranteed service levels, a single point of accountability and immediate responsiveness.
"Brick-and-mortar Fortune 500 companies are increasingly turning to outsourcing vendors for high-end infrastructure services required to support their business-critical applications," said Bernie Schneider, chief executive officer and president of Intira Corporation. "We are proud to be part of Longs` e-Retailing strategy and look forward to working with the company to support its continued growth."
About Longs Drug Stores Corporation
Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE:LDG), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest drug store chains in North America. Founded in 1938 by brothers Joe and Tom Long as "Longs Self-Service Drugs," the Company currently operates 430 stores in California, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada, Colorado and Oregon. Annual per store sales average over $9.5 million. Longs` unique strategy, focused on consumers` health and well being, includes competencies in the key categories of pharmacy, over the counter medications, photo, and cosmetics, as well as other convenience offerings. Longs` web site, located on the Internet at www.longs.com, blends consumer services with extensive health and wellness information and includes the latest company news and investor information.
About Intira Corporation
Intira is a premium provider of outsourced infrastructure services for companies demanding guaranteed uptime of complex business applications. Intira`s Netsourcing Services design, build, deploy, and manage high-performance infrastructure solutions. Only Intira provides outsourced infrastructure services through a seamlessly integrated and directly controlled infrastructure. As a result, customers trust Intira to deliver guaranteed service levels, a single point of accountability and immediate responsiveness. Intira is based in Pleasanton, Calif., and has offices throughout the United States and Canada. Visit Intira at www.intira.com, or call 1-888-326-3638.
Intira Corporation has filed a trademark application for the mark "Intira." The trademark, trade name, or service mark of any other company appearing herein belongs to its holder.
CONTACT: Intira Corporation
Lisa Copass, 925/924-8153
lcopass@intira.com
or
Schwartz Communications Inc.
Kathleen Shanahan or Lisa Perlmutter, 415/512-0770
intira@schwartz-pr.com
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