“Working with Microsoft Services was a smart decision. By doing so, we have greatly reduced our risk in the process of building a new IT infrastructure.” Ms. Guan, IT Manager, Sichuan Investment Group Sichuan Investment Group (SIG) needed to develop a cohesive IT strategy to align business needs across the organization. SIG turned to Microsoft Services to develop a comprehensive plan to centralize and optimize IT operations. As a result, SIG reduced operational costs, increased employee access to the Internet, and boosted management and IT efficiency. Business Needs The Sichuan Investment Group (SIG) is a major investment body of the Sichuan Provincial Government of China and is primarily focused on financing for government projects. In 2006, the company’s total capital reached CN¥5.7 billion (U.S.$90 million) and its annual IT budget neared ¥5 million ($787,000). In 2006, the company’s IT strategy did not align with business needs, nor did it provide the knowledge and tools needed to more effectively administer and support employees. The company’s complex, decentralized IT environment further complicated IT operations. The effects of the IT environment rippled throughout SIG. For management, running key executive reports for business analysis could take up to five days. Only 10 percent of the company’s 1,000 employees had access to the business portal. And across the board, employees lacked the collaboration tools that they needed to communicate more effectively and share key business data. “The IT system was not aligned to our overall business, so our business processes struggled,” says Ms. Guan, IT Manager of Sichuan Investment Group. “Our management was having a difficult time managing the business.” Solution To take charge of its IT environment, SIG engaged with Microsoft Services to facilitate the architecture and planning for an optimized IT environment and operation. Efforts began with a detailed Business and IT Strategy Briefing, wherein Guan and her team worked with Microsoft Services to gain a clear understanding of the strategic direction for building a more efficient environment. With this direction, SIG soon called on the expertise of Microsoft Services to help move forward with the opportunities the company had identified. By working with Microsoft Professional Advisory Services—part of Microsoft Services—Guan and her team developed a strong relationship with a Microsoft IT Architecture and Planning Advisor. The advisor worked onsite at SIG as a member of the SIG IT team to facilitate ongoing IT efforts that support overall business goals. These efforts spanned training, deployment, and project execution for the Enterprise Operation Support System, the foundation of the company's new IT environment. As a member of Microsoft Services, the advisor brought the collective knowledge of Microsoft to SIG and opened up channels of communication with internal Microsoft teams to help reduce the risk and increase the success of restructuring the company’s IT infrastructure. According to Guan, Advisory Services has been extremely effective at bridging efforts —from administration to IT operations—to help IT deliver the most value to the business. “Our Microsoft Advisor helped us integrate our business Customer: Sichuan Investment Group Website: www.invest.com.cn Customer Size: 1,000 employees Country or Region: China Industry: Financial Customer Profile The Sichuan Investment Group (SIG) is a division of the Sichuan Provincial Government of China. SIG has 1,000 employees, including an IT team of 30. Software and Services Services − Microsoft Enterprise Strategy Services − Microsoft IT Architecture and Planning Advisor Microsoft Services Microsoft Services helps customers and partners discover and implement high- value Microsoft solutions that generate rapid, meaningful, and measurable results. As the consulting, technical support, and customer service arm of the world’s leading software company, Microsoft Services enables the successful adoption, deployment, and use of Microsoft solutions and technologies for all customers, from the individual to the enterprise. For more information about Microsoft Services, go to: www.microsoft.com/microsoftservices Microsoft Services Customer Solution Case Study Investment Firm Builds New IT Environment, Reduces Operational Expenses by 50 Percent