Coles teams with Adelaide-based integrator

Adelaide-based Virtual Ark is working with Coles on its cloud strategy in a project the retailer expects will save it millions.

The cloud integrator is using its application management platform to deliver Coles' applications to retail stores via the cloud. The company's platform brings together more than fifteen solutions, including RightScale, CopperEgg and Monexa. 

Virtual Ark chief executive Marty Gauvin said the company was working with Coles to build a private cloud within Coles' data centre and migrating its hundred of applications across. 

He said the project will save Coles in labour, hardware and time.  

"Coles will be able to open a new store quickly, and they'll be a whole lot more agile in terms of entering new markets. An obvious example is the roll out of the new Flybuys, which is one of the first projects we worked on."

Working on the project are 20 to 30 Coles and Virtual Ark employees. Gauvin said he expects to move from non-production to production workloads by the end of 2014.

Virtual Ark was recently awarded one of four IT awards by Coles. The company was recognised as the 2013 Coles IT service vendor of the year.

Virtual Ark has around 20 staff spread across the globe but generates most of its revenue in Australia. 

Gauvin previously founded web-hosting company Hostworks, which was acquired by Broadcast Australia for $68.9 million in 2008.