News

REI uses Oracle software to link kiosks, other channels

February 18, 2003

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. -- Oracle Corp. (Nasdaq: ORCL) , the world's largest enterprise software company, says that Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national retailer of outdoor gear and clothing, has implemented Oracle9i Database with Real Application Clusters to power its e-commerce Web site.

The site plays a crucial role in REI's multi-channel strategy, which includes 63 retail stores with in-store kiosks, telephone, mail order and the Internet. Using the Oracle system, the four disparate databases were consolidated into a shared-disk configuration.

"By using Oracle9i Database, REI is effectively able to reduce planned and unplanned downtime, thus providing a consistent customer experience for our customers who access our site via the Web or through our in store kiosks," said Ernie Hughes, REI's director of technical services, in a news release.

The software also provides data warehousing capabilities that enable REI to analyze customer purchasing patterns.

REI's Web site, which coordinates most of the company's business transactions and serves as a clearing-house for multiple sales channels, is using a single Oracle9i Database to manage mail orders, in-store special orders, gift registries and kiosk operations.

In addition to finding products, customers can use the site or in-store kiosks to research hiking trails, camping guides and fly-fishing techniques.

The shared-disk approach to Oracle9i Real Application Clusters helps enable REI to better utilize the hardware required to run its Web site, according to the release. Rather than designate processors as back-up systems that are only used if failure occurs, Oracle's database clusters employ several hardware servers that run simultaneously helping to ensure seamless failover.

In the event that one node fails, the user-transactions fail over to the other nodes of the cluster without any interruption of service, thereby enabling continuous availability for REI customers or employees accessing the Web site.