AUSTIN, Texas – February 19, 2009 – Baxter Planning Systems (www.bybaxter.com), the premier provider of service parts planning solutions, announced today that Data Domain, Inc., the leading provider of deduplication storage systems, has selected Baxter’s industry-leading On-Demand Planning Solution to support their global service parts planning requirements.
Use the following Link to access the press release in its entirety: http://www.slideshare.net/piblogger/data-domain-selects-baxter-solutions
Commentary:
As the growing debate regarding the diminishing value of press releases continues, I always try to look for the meaning behind the headlines in an effort to quantify an announcement’s relevance to my readership.
To merely read about the latest Baxter win whereby Data Domain, which according to independent financial reporting sites is an organization that “has eminent knowledge of data protection technologies,” has selected the Austin-based vendor’s On-Demand Planning Solution to “support their global service parts planning requirements” may not necessarily generate much interest beyond the close followers of either company.
However, and after some additional research, this announcement may carry more insight than what would be gained through the usual cursory view.
In his book “Nothing is Secret Anymore! The Confessions of a Millionaire Information Broker,” Matthew Lesko stated that “Information is the currency of today’s world. Those who control information are the most powerful people on the planet – and the ones with the most bulging bank accounts.”
Based on this premise, it would be logical to conclude that the people and the organizations who manage and maintain the integrity of information (nee data) would then be the gatekeepers or guardians of the “power’ to which Lesko was referring. If this is the case, it goes a long way to explaining why during a global economic crisis, Data Domain has beaten market analyst earnings estimates the previous two quarters. And why today, their share value is up 0.65 or 4.81 percent, while industry heavyweights such as EMC Corp, Quantum and Sun Microsystems’ share value is down.
Now without getting into the intricacies of the technology behind the data protection solutions provided by Data Domain, I do think that it is important to at least have a 10,000 foot level understanding of what they actually do.
Nearline Storage and Data Deduplication are innovative methods for storing and accessing data in a highly secured environment that ensures timely access to information on a cost effective basis with minimal performance degradation.
In short, organizations compile an infinite amount of information, most of which is not necessarily required on a daily basis. However when said information is needed, it is critical to have both reliable and immediate access. I am not talking about the bankers box storage of one’s tax receipt in the basement that if required is usually on an annual basis at tax time.
I am talking about essential data that would likely represent the equivalent of 20 large warehouses of bankers boxes, in which a pre-defined access schedule does not exist. Knowing how to locate a file or specific piece of information from this type of environment would be a herculean challenge if not for the intuitive elements of Data Domain’s advanced technology.
What would happen if the hardware that drives this technology failed (as technology is prone to do, and usually at the most inopportune times)? Data Domain, who was named to Business Solutions Magazine’s Best Channel Vendor List for 2009, and their customers such as the U.S. Army, Associated Newspapers, Children’s Hospital Boston and Princeton University would not be inclined to accept downtime due to poor service parts planning. Enter Baxter Planning Systems.
Within the context of the above, the statement made by Data Domain’s Director of Global Logistics (Kent McLaggan) that “Baxter’s unique solution of state-of-the-art service parts planning tools, comprehensive IT services and the best-in-class planning resources helps us rapidly deploy the strategies necessary to achieve superior customer service levels and optimized inventory,” takes on a whole new meaning.
After all, and considering that TiVo is also a Data Domain client, how would you feel if your TV went on the fritz just as the Steeler’s Ben Roethlisberger released his pass to Santonio Holmes in the final seconds of this year’s Super Bowl. Even though you were able to watch the entire game, it wouldn’t matter if the TV didn’t work when you needed it the most.
Data Domain provides solutions that are there when their customers need it the most. They chose Baxter Planning Systems’ On-Demand solutions to make certain of that.
I guess you are known by the company you keep.
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Posted on February 19, 2009
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