Morrisons goes shopping for new IT system to handle rapid growth

The centre, which is located at its Bradford headquarters, manages more than 420 stores throughout the UK, controlling everything from stock to temperatures.

It was built in 2006, but because the firm has grown so rapidly in recent years, the centre has reached its capacity

and now needs more space to operate.

Leeds-based IT firm Express Data, which designed and installed the centre's original computer networking infrastructure, will carry out the expansion work, which includes installing data cables, monitoring power and air flow and preventing alien crosstalk – where noise or other data transmission can be picked up from adjacent cables.

Darryl Shears, data centre and operations manager at Morrisons, said: "We are planning to extend the data centre because the business is growing and it will enable the company to continue expanding.

"The centre is crucial because the stores would be unable to operate without it."

He added: "As part of the expansion, we will look at new technologies, which will help us to become more environmentally friendly and efficient. We're looking at new ways of cooling the room, which will reduce the cost of our electricity."

The headquarters of the UK's fourth largest retailer houses 1,600 of the company's 130,000 staff, but the data centre, which includes 560 miles of cables, is operated by only a handful of people.

In addition to the miles of cables, the centre also stores enough diesel to power a family car to travel once around the world. The fuel would be used by a generator if there was a power cut at the supermarket's head office.

Express Data, which employs 15 people and has a 1.4m turnover, has worked with the company for 12 years.

It recently installed a new cabling system in the existing centre, which includes thinner wires, allowing the air flow to move around more efficiently.

It also installed CCTV cameras and security access control keypads to the data centre as well as temperature control devices.

Mr Shears said: "With continuing expansion, we were

facing the same issues that many large organisations do in terms of driving data centre efficiencies – namely power, cooling and airflow.

"Keeping business equipment cool is essential, particularly as more cooling requires more power, which presents a cost challenge."

Kevin Forrest, director of Express Data, added: "The re-engineering of Morrisons IT environment has resulted in significant changes in

the network's topology and reduced the demands on its data centre.

"We are pleased to have been able to help overcome specific problems and provide solutions both in efficiency and cost."

Morrisons plans to open 60 new stores across the UK over the next three years, adding a further 1.5m sq ft of selling space.

The supermarket, whose new chief executive, Dalton Philips, started work earlier this month, posted a 21 per cent rise in underlying pre-tax profits to 767m for the year to January 31, beating analysts' expectations.

Around 10.5m customers visit a Morrisons store each week, a new record for the group.

Express Data, which was formed in 1992 by a team of network designers and installers, works with clients including West Yorkshire Police and the recently-merged Leeds City College.

EXPRESS DATA

Computer networking specialists Express Data was formed as a cabling company by a team of network designers and installers in 1992.

The Leeds-based firm has developed into a complete network solutions provider.

It has a turnover of 1.4m and employs 15 members of staff.

Clients include Morrisons, West Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Building Society and McCain.

It also merged the computer systems at Leeds City College, which was formed when Leeds College of Technology, Leeds Thomas Danby and

Park Lane College Leeds & Keighley when they merged last year.