Alko Inc., the Finnish state-owned alcoholic beverage retail company, and IBM today announced a new five-year information technology (IT) services agreement that will help Alko improve customer satisfaction by increased reliability of customer service systems and supply chain operations.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )

In an effort to help Alko meet and exceed the company's business goals in customer satisfaction, IBM will transform Alko's IT infrastructure to a more streamlined and consistent platform. Under the agreement, IBM will enhance and manage Alko's IT infrastructure including servers, middleware, network services and workstation support. The agreement will also support Alko's environmental conservation initiatives by reducing data center power consumption.

"We value IBM's continuous service development, systematic quality measurement and Smarter Planet approach to sustainability and continuous IT development," said Minna Alitalo, chief financial officer, Alko. "With IBM's direction and technology support, Alko will be able to achieve a highly efficient, cost effective IT environment that will enable us to enhance our customer satisfaction and exceed business goals and government standards."

"We are excited to be working with Alko, a company that takes a progressive approach to its environmental responsibility. According to our estimates, Alko will save up to 60 percent in data center power consumption," said Jan Sippel, project executive manager, IBM Global Technology Services Finland. "Our infrastructure and services will provide Alko with a more intelligent IT environment and strong foundation that will enable the company to achieve its business goals."

  The contract was signed in March 2010.

  About Alko Inc.

  For more information on Alko, visit www.alko.fi.

  About IBM

  For more information on IBM, visit www.ibm.com/services.

  Media Contacts:
  Alko Inc.

Minna Alitalo, Chief Financial Officer, minna.alitalo@alko.fi, +358 (0) 20 711 5441

IBM

Petra Snellman, Media Relations Manager (Finland), petra.snellman@fi.ibm.com, +358 (0)40 709 4367

Tara Sucato, Media Relations (U.S.), tara.sucato@us.ibm.com, + 1 (917) 472-3701

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: tjsucato@us.ibm.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: IBM