HotSchedules Integrates Advanced Hyper-V Virtualization Technology from Microsoft into Production
HotSchedules was one of three companies worldwide chosen by Dell to be included in the Microsoft/Dell-sponsored Hyper-V RDP program
AUSTIN, TEXAS - Nov. 18, 2008 - HotSchedules, the leading provider of online restaurant labor scheduling and workforce management solutions, today announced that the company has successfully deployed a new data center technology designed to accommodate HotSchedules' explosive rate of growth, reduce power consumption, and ensure the highest level of performance and availability for customers.
Out of 250 companies that were selected for Microsoft's Hyper-V early adopter program, HotSchedules was one of only three companies chosen worldwide for the Microsoft/Dell Hyper- V Rapid Deployment Program (RDP). HotSchedules deployed a virtualized server infrastructure with Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 Hyper-V running on Dell PowerEdge servers and supported by a Dell PowerVault™ iSCSI storage area network (SAN).
More than 300,000 users depend on HotSchedules' restaurant workforce management solutions every day as an essential tool for scheduling and communication. Since 2005, the company has more than doubled its business each year and has a 99 percent customer retention rate - a rare level of customer loyalty for the software industry.
However, HotSchedules' rapid growth created challenges. "We quickly realized that we couldn't continue to add computer hardware for each new customer-we were running out of space and power in our data center," said Ray Pawlikowski, president, HotSchedules. "We needed a way to consolidate our resources while gaining scalability for future growth, and Dell and Microsoft provided the answer."
HotSchedules worked with Dell and Microsoft consultants, including Dell's Infrastructure Consulting Services Group, to design and deploy a new virtualized server infrastructure in only two months, reducing the number of physical servers by a 10-to-1 ratio. By consolidating and simplifying its IT infrastructure, HotSchedules was able to:
- Eliminate 36 physical servers
- Cut monthly power expenses by 77 percent
- Reduce software licensing costs by 75 percent
Even more important, the technology boosts application performance and availability to the highest possible level for HotSchedules' customers and will support the company's continued growth.
"Hyper-V technology is a key strategic investment for HotSchedules," said Pawlikowski. "We've built our business by continually reinvesting in our technology and delivering the best customer service and support in our industry, and this was the next logical step for us." As part of its new infrastructure strategy, HotSchedules is also bringing online an additional data center, ensuring complete application redundancy and uptime.
About HotSchedules
HotSchedules is the premier full-service provider of online restaurant labor scheduling and restaurant workforce management solutions. HotSchedules empowers staff and managers with all the tools they need to do their jobs easily, efficiently and in real time-with a quick and proven ROI. More than 2,750 restaurants and over 300,000 users rely on HotSchedules for labor management and scheduling every day. Whether a restaurant has one location or 1,500, HotSchedules has the right solution, along with the Digital Logbook, which brings a new level of ease and efficiency to daily manager communication and documentation. HotSchedules complements its product offerings with a world-class, bilingual support staff at the company's headquarters in Austin, Texas.
HotSchedules' corporate and franchise clients include such well-known concepts as Outback Steakhouse, the Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Carino's Italian, IHOP, Kona Grill, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Fleming's Steakhouse, BJ's Restaurants and Brewhouse Applebee's, Chili's, McAlister's Deli, Jamba Juice, Ruth's Chris, and many others.