Storage system opens up for ASP and e-business in the printing industry

Storage system opens up for ASP and e-business in the printing industry SP2, the Danish pre-press specialist, is the first to offer storage and administration of large image databases for their customers. Each database can contain up to 40,000 images that the customers can access over the Internet. The solution is based on an advanced datawarehouse solution provided by ProAct Systems, a company in the ProAct IT Group, and has been launched as an ASP and e-business model. SP2 is Denmark's largest pre-press company and with this new business model it shows the way for the future development of the printing industry. The datawarehousing capabilities means that high resolution images and sounds in a structured way, and allows SP2 to function as an external storage hotel for its customers. Through the Internet the customers have access to low resolution copies of the images and sounds for layout and desktop publishing. Apart from the datawarehouse facilities, SP2 also offers a cluster of services in connection with imaging such as conversion of low resolution to high resolution pictures in finished files and coordination with the printers. The system also works as a platform for a row of e-business solutions that SP2 offers mainly to photographers who want to display their work on the Web. SP2 takes care of the design and maintenance of the simple web sites, together with the storage and coordination of the distribution of pictures in the SP2s storage system. "The Internet affords many opportunities for the printing industry, which is traditionally characterised by heavy, inflexible work routines," said Morten Andersson, CTO at SP2. "Working with images and sound demands huge storage capacity, security and expertise - luxuries most businesses can't afford. The pre-press business is ideally suited to deal with all aspects of this work and can also offer a number of additional services," he added. SP2's storage solution SP2's storage system is based on a SAN (Storage Area Network) solution. The system consists of 15 customer related databases, each consisting of between 20 and 700 gigabytes. The largest database contains 40,000 images. The solution is built around six MetaStore storage systems, connected to a SUN server. The system has a capacity of 8 Terabyte, but can be expanded to hold 17 Terabytes (1 Terabyte = 1,000 Gigabytes). According to Morten Andersson, speed, scalability and security are the most important criteria for a storage system. For example, to be able to offer ASP services around the solution, the storage system must be easily expandable without having to interrupt services. The solution has been delivered by ProAct System which has delivered over 300 professional storage solutions in Scandinavia with customers such as Telia, Ericsson and Nokia. Andersson added, "We are delighted ProAct is helping us offer such a groundbreaking benefits to our customers. It is clear that it has huge experience in storage and that it can design the exact solution to suit our needs today and in the future." For more information, visit www.proact.se or contact: Sören Obling ProAct Systems A/S so@proact.dk Phone: +45 70 10 11 32 About SP2 SP2 is the largest pre-press business in Denmark. The company was established in 1993 and has 100 employees. SP2 is a full service business with units working with creative design, photography, scanning, desktop publishing and distribution. SP2 also administrates a very large image database that the customers can access 24-7. SP2's customer base consists mainly of advertising agencies, photographers, and large corporations with in-house advertising departments. SP2 had a turnover of 100 million DKr in 2000. For more information about SP2 visit http://www.sp2.dk. ProAct is a specialist and independent integrator with know-how, methods and products in the field of infrastructure for securing mission- critical information. The company, which is active in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, focuses on medium-sized and large companies and organisations in need of secure and efficient handling of mission-critical information. Business is conducted in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Helsinki, Uleåborg, Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Linköping, Lund, Sundsvall, Karlskrona and Zurich with a staff more than 260, most of whom are technically oriented. What sets ProAct apart is the technical expertise and competence of its personnel. ProAct IT Group AB is listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Attract40. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/08/10/20010810BIT00200/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/08/10/20010810BIT00200/bit0001.pdf