BI-LO Goes Google

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Dec. 13, 2010) - With one eye to the future and another on the bottom line, BI-LO has begun using Google's Business Apps service, a web-based communications platform complete with e-mail, word processing, scheduling and document sharing capabilities.  The move, which is expected to produce hundreds of thousands in annual savings, improves business efficiency through enhanced communication and collaboration and allows BI-LO to focus more time and energy on providing customers with a superior shopping experience.

The switch from Lotus Notes to Google Business Apps gives BI-LO more for less.  In addition to the 60 percent total e-mail cost reduction, the new Google solution makes obsolete the hundreds of analog tapes used for e-mail backup, reducing storage and power costs by 10 percent.  Google's service also allows BI-LO teammates to collaborate on projects electronically, eliminating the need to print multiple copies of a single document and greatly reducing paper waste.  Like with all of BI-LO's cost saving efforts, these savings will be passed on to customers.

"This decision was made with the needs of our teammates and customers in mind," Carol deWitt, CIO/vice president of information management with BI-LO said.  "The solution we found in Google not only allows us to pass greater savings on to our customers, but  our teammates get  to spend less time working around computers and more time responding to our customers quickly and effectively. "

BI-LO's decision brings customer benefits other than just cost savings.  Through Google, the security of customer BONUSCARD® and credit card information will be improved.   Google's service reduces the risk of data loss through spam and spyware and eliminates data on teammates' workstations.

"Protecting our customer's data and ensuring we have their trust are at the very top of BI-LO's priorities," said Jason Breazeale, senior manager of enterprise architecture.  "BI-LO has invested millions of dollars in solutions to protect customer data and the switch to Google Business Apps continues that commitment."

BI-LO's decision to use Google Business Apps is another example of the company's commitment to advanced technology.  Earlier this year BI-LO supported the "We're Feeling Lucky" campaign as part of Greenville's desire to become a Google Fiber city.  Google will announce the target communities for its project to build experimental, ultra high-speed broadband networks by the end of the year.