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Borders Bolsters Site, Macy's Parades Software

Border Re-Launches Web Site Without Amazon

Bookseller Borders Group re-launched its Web site this week with a number of new features, but also with a major partner missing. The company has separated its Borders.com book, music and movie-selling business from Amazon.com. Borders had partnered with Amazon for the last seven years.

The re-launch of the site comes two months after Borders said it may put itself up for sale. Chief executive George Jones said regardless of the sale, creating an independent site was critical for the retailer's future.

"When I arrived at the company in 2006, there was no doubt in my mind that Borders needed its own e-commerce site to be successful," Jones said in announcing the site relaunch. "We've invested significant capital and resources in the development of this new site and are delighted that with its launch, we can move forward from pure investment to a sales and profit generator."

A key feature of the site is "The Magic Shelf," which allows users to browse over new book, DVD, and music titles, much as though they might glance at titles on a shelf in the store.

Borders partnered with a number of technology partners in the site's development. Allurent of Cambridge, Mass., provided the technology behind The Magic Shelf feature. Akamai Technologies, also of Cambridge, provided its Dynamic Site Accelerator, which speeds the delivery of interactive content on a site. Sterling Commerce, a subsidiary of AT&T, provided the order fulfillment platform, supporting order capture and payment authorization. Alibris, a company based in Emeryville, Calif., provided technology to power the Borders Marketplace, a place for customers to buy and sell used and out-of-print titles, and Brulant, of Cleveland, handled the application development on IBM's WebSphere Commerce platform.

Macy's Adopts Software To Manage Parade

Managing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is no simple task, so it's no wonder organizers are turning to software to help keep track of the myriad of helium balloons, floats, singers, dancers and performers involved in the world-famous event.

Macy's Parade & Entertainment Group, which manages the annual event, has selected FileMaker Pro 9 to serve as its new database platform to store and manage information associated with the parade. In addition to keeping track of the 5,000-odd volunteers involved in the parade, the software will be used to keep track of costume, float and balloon inventory at the parade's studio in Hoboken, N.J.

Robin Hall, senior vice president for Macy's Parade & Entertainment Group, said that prior to selecting FileMaker, the parade used a Microsoft Access database for the task. However, parade volunteers found it difficult to use the database without prior experience, requiring information to be exported into Microsoft Excel files. Hall says with the new FileMaker database, tasks such as assignment of volunteers to parade responsibilities have been reduced from about 10 days to one or two days.

Future plans call for tying the database directly into the parade's Web site so that online registrations can be accepted for volunteer participation in the parade. FileMaker is a subsidiary of Apple.

VMware Purchases B-hive Networks

Virtualization software specialist VMware has inked a deal to purchase B-hive Networks, an application performance management vendor based in San Mateo, Calif., and Herzliya, Israel. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The companies said B-hive's research team will serve as the core of VMware's new Israel development lab. VMware will leverage B-Hive's technology to offer performance management and service level reporting for applications running on VMware virtual machines.

Oregon Welfare System Selects CGI

CGI Group has been selected by the State of Oregon to implement a next generation state-wide automated child welfare information system. The 36-month, $30 million contract will replace the state's existing child welfare system.

In addition to improving reporting capabilities, the system will include a new framework for measuring outcomes of the services provided to children and families. CGI is building on the success it has had in implementing similar systems in 10 other states, including Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, and Connecticut.

Compiled by Mel Duvall, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Comments (1)

	1. 30-05-2008 06:52
	I think the companies is bussines plan of new generation with researching management team and reporting service level.Sounds interesting to mexxx Registered

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