Content about Cloud computing

San Diego – Tommy Bahama is employing the IT Service Automation Application Suite from cloud-based IT services provider ServiceNow to automate IT functions such as incident management, change management, problem management, configuration management database and service catalog. The specialty apparel brand is also using the SaaS-based Orchestrate solution from ServiceNow to streamline the hiring and training process.

San Antonio, Texas -- A survey by open-cloud company Rackspace Hosting of 1,300 U.S. and U.K. companies revealed that retail in both countries has benefited from cloud computing via IT cost reductions, increased profits, improved disaster recovery and business agility, as well as strengthened out-of-office employee performance.

Charlotte, N.C. -- National IT infrastructure and cloud solutions provider Peak 10 Inc. has been selected to host the data center of Tractor Supply Co., the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States.  

With the increasing popularity of mobile devices and social networks, managing the omni-channel experience will be a key priority for retailers this holiday season. Leading experts say that retailers need to update their legacy technology systems to handle the large amounts of data being generated by these channels.

The term “cloud computing” generally means anything that involves delivering hosted computing services over the Internet. Here, the word “cloud” is used to refer to the Internet, most frequently depicted in diagrams as a cloud.

New York City -- Oracle Corp. said it will acquire RightNow Technologies, a leading provider of cloud-based customer service, for approximately $1.5 billion. The acquisition follows Oracle's recent announcement that it is purchasing Endeca, a provider of unstructured data management, web commerce and BI solutions.

RightNow focuses on customer experience across contact channels. Its Customer Service Cloud is geared at customer interactions and data for call centers, social networks and the web, according to RightNow’s website.

By Thomas Kiblin, cbehrens@virtacore.com

Frenzied shopping trips, unexpected visitors and gift-wrap paper cuts -- I bet you thought consumers were the only ones suffering during the holidays. But have you ever thought that the holiday season is anything but fun for retailers IT departments?  It’s a time of scorching demand, long days and loads of customer transactions on systems typically not designed for peak performance. For retail in December, the pressure is on.