IBM Ensures Uninterrupted Business Operations for Liberty Commercial Center (LCC)

IBM announced recently that it has deployed the needed business continuity and resilience services for Liberty Commercial Center, Inc. (LCC) to manage its information technology (IT) infrastructure more efficiently, lower the overall cost of IT operations, minimize business disruption and implement a superior disaster recovery strategy.  LCC is a leading commercial establishment in the Bicol Region engaged in retail business.

Bicol Region is one of the key growth regions outside of the capital city of Manila. Geographic expansion into these smaller cities is one of IBM’s core growth strategies in the Philippines and in ASEAN. IBM is committed to assisting local businesses that are experiencing significant growth such as LCC in these smaller provinces to develop skills and advance new and more efficient processes with the use of information technology.

Last year, LCC started a major expansion initiative to better serve their loyal customers.  With their short and long term growth plans, of 5 years and 10 years respectively, the Bicol-based retail giant which operates and manages several supermarkets, department stores, food outlets, malls and property developments needed to establish a robust and highly resilient infrastructure to ensure continued business operations.  With operations in multiple geographic locations, intermittent supply of power and telecom, typhoon, earthquake and the proximity to Mayon Volcano are major concerns for the company’s long term plans.

Leveraging on IBM Business Continuity and Resiliency Services (BCRS) solutions, all of LCC’s critical data would still be available and accessible if disaster strikes. The IBM solution allows the company to focus on their core business instead of worrying about its IT infrastructure.  
"Working with IBM will help us better manage our IT spending, comply with regulatory standards and focus on our key priorities," says Christian Tan, Chief Information Officer,  LCC. "We will operate with an enhanced security and protection from IBM’s reliable hardware and services solutions."
IBM brings more than 50 years of business continuity and disaster recover experience of managing successful customer recoveries and crisis management. IBM manages thousands of clients around the globe and has deep understanding of industry challenges and dynamics.  

The project will enable LCC to focus on their core business that will result in increased value for their customers and ultimately achieve their business objectives.  It also indicates that local businesses based outside capital cities are slowly realizing the great value in information technology (IT) adoption as a way to increase competitiveness and as a key enabler for growth.

The retail industry is experiencing significant growth in the Philippines, mainly due to rapid urbanization happening especially in growth areas like Bicol Region.  It is also an important contributor to the Philippine economy as it accounts for roughly 15% of the country’s total Gross National Product (GNP) and 33% of the entire services sector. It employs some 5.25 million people, representing a significant 18% of the country’s work force, which means roughly 2 out of every ten (10) workers is employed in the retail industry.