Hybrid network a suitable choice for Pfizer, Parke-Davis

Mergers aren’t for the fainthearted. When pharmaceutical majors Parke-Davis and Pfizer merged, there were significant challenges in integrating their networks; but the biggest problem was to ensure that critical applications were available round the clock. Pfizer enlisted Comsat Max to seamlessly integrate a managed hybrid network, says Srikanth R P

Mergers and acquisitions are complex and messy. Beyond the boardroom shenanigans, they necessitate the integration of systems and resources that were never designed to inter-operate. Pfizer and Parke-Davis faced this difficulty when the companies merged. While merger decisions are often based on financial criteria, the key to achieving a smooth fit lies in enabling a seamless integration between the IT infrastructures of the merging companies. To handle this complex task, Pfizer called Comsat Max, which formed a crack team to analyse the network architecture of Pfizer and Parke-Davis. The two companies had different architectures and a presence running across multiple locations in India. For example, Parke-Davis’ network covered 24 locations while Pfizer’s was spread across 49. In terms of enterprise applications, Parke-Davis was using the J D Edwards’ ERP suite while Pfizer employed an internal application. Additionally, Parke-Davis had a pure VSAT network while Pfizer’s network was typically a hybrid of VSATs and Internet VPNs.

The integration

The task for Comsat Max was to combine the two networks and ensure that the new network architecture was fine-tuned to the requirements of key users and the existing information flows. Additionally, Parke-Davis and Pfizer had their own sales networks with offices in the same cities. So it was important to analyse each city separately and choose the final network architecture. It was decided to transform Parke-Davis’ pure VSAT-based network into a hybrid network consisting of VSATs and Internet VPNs backed up by ISDN at the local level. Comsat Max also designed a unique IP addressing system to ensure that it was not in conflict with Pfizer’s global network.

Parke-Davis had 21 sites connected by a VSAT network. While it would have been logical to extend Parke-Davis’ VSAT network to Pfizer’s additional sites, the system integrator decided that a hybrid network would be a better option as it allowed for a flexible architecture and was cost-effective to boot.

Says Joyjit Chatterji of Comsat Max, “The hybrid network is cost-effective and scalable. Pfizer does not need to alter the network design if they add applications and sites.” Since Pfizer also wanted to run critical applications on the network, it was important to study the bandwidth needs of each application and ensure seamless access. The entire project—designing the network, shifting VSATs, and integrating the offices, C&F agents and manufacturing facilities—was completed in approximately four months.

Bandwidth gets a boost

While mergers are usually seen as complicated undertakings, integrating two networks presented an opportunity to cut costs. Arun Gupta, senior director (Business Technology), Pfizer, avers, “We have reduced the cost of maintaining the network while improving the available bandwidth.” Today, the hybrid network consists of 32 sites on Ku band VSATs and 17 sites on VPN. The sites are all monitored and managed on a 24/7 basis through Comsat Max’s network management centre. Unicenter TNG from CA and IBM’s Tivoli are used for network monitoring while security is monitored through Provider-1 from Checkpoint. Comsat Max claims that the current integrated network allows the company faster access to data with centralised control on sales, order processing and inventory levels.

A clear-cut roadmap

Merging two IT infrastructures is always a thorny undertaking. The longer it takes, the costlier it is for the merged entity. The Pfizer example shows that companies need a clear-cut roadmap to ensure a smooth merger.

srikanth@expresscomputeronline.com