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by Lauren Gibbons Paul, Contributing Editor Posted on Friday, November 03, 2006 3:10:08 PM   | Abstract: | UPS manufacturer American Power Conversion uses a rules-based product configurator to speed response to customers' requirements. |
As one of the top makers of power protection systems, $1.7 billion American Power Conversion Corp. (West Kingston, RI) goes by the motto, "Always on, always available." So, when APC senior management planned the launch of its On Demand Data Center product line back in 2000, they knew the ability to quickly generate accurate quotes and configure products was crucial. Founded in 1981, APC for years made stock cooling components for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. But by the end of the 1990s, the market began to shift away from a supply-driven model, in which companies made products and offered them for sale, to a customer demand-driven model in which customers set the tone with their individual preferences. Designed to cater to those preferences, APC's InfraStruXure line consists of data center infrastructure, highly configurable power distribution systems, software management systems, fire protection equipment, security systems and services -- everything you might need to outfit anything from a modest wiring closet to a 50,000-square-foot state-of-the-art data center. In putting together a layout for a mid-size data center with about 250 racks, for example, a highly skilled engineer would have about 2,000 different configuration variations to choose from. [Click to continue] |