SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IDG's CIO magazine today announced H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) as a recipient of the 2011 CIO 100. The 24th annual award program recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT).
H&R Block was honored for efforts in virtualizing their computing infrastructure by leveraging thin clients and Wyse WSM streaming software from Wyse Technology, the global leader in cloud client computing.
H&R Block is one of the world's largest tax services providers, having prepared more than 550 million tax returns since 1955. In fiscal 2010, H&R Block prepared more than 23 million tax returns worldwide.
"This year's CIO 100 awards draws well-deserved attention to companies that are not only innovating with IT but creating genuine business value as well," said Maryfran Johnson, Editor in Chief of CIO magazine & Events. "These winning companies and their IT organizations are an inspiration to businesses everywhere."
Due to the seasonal nature of the tax business, H&R Block scales from several thousand tax professionals to more than 100,000 associates every tax filing season. This jump puts an unprecedented premium on a streamlined and reliable technology infrastructure. In April 2009, H&R Block CIO Rich Agar challenged his team to find an alternative solution to a high-touch PC infrastructure. Historically, the company spent millions on annual capital re-investment for personal computers. These PCs would be expected to last three to four years, at which point the cycle would continue and those PCs would be replaced with newer models.
"Our chief architect introduced the idea of thin clients and desktop virtualization as an alternative to PCs," said Agar. "Advances in both thin client hardware and virtualization software had evolved to the point where these solutions were field-proven. We evaluated many vendors and chose Wyse due to our desire for a one vendor solution and our ability to influence future product roadmaps. Wyse stepped to the plate and delivered high quality solutions in the timeframe we needed.”
Prior to this solution, Agar's team had to visit each of the company’s nearly 11,000 retail tax offices and touch every device. It was time-intensive, travel-intensive and de-centralized. Instead of replacing PCs every three years, H&R Block will replace hardware with thin clients every seven to eight years, resulting in significant capital savings. Also, instead of physically updating and maintaining every end-point device, H&R Block's IT team now has the ability to remote manage, with the ultimate goal of achieving "turnkey set-up."
H&R Block currently has 8,000 seats deployed with plans to move to approximately 50,000 seats and beyond leveraging the Wyse hardware and software solution set.
"We heartily congratulate H&R Block on being recognized for this initiative. More and more we are seeing companies break the vicious cycle of PC replacement by moving their computing infrastructure to the cloud," according to Tarkan Maner, president and CEO of Wyse Technology. "This type of desktop standardization is simply not possible with traditional PCs, that require relatively sophisticated processes to bring up to company standards, and which are also time-consuming and prone to breakdown. H&R Block’s virtual desktop deployment might not be as simple as suddenly plugging in 90,000 toasters, but its vision for future state office management is close. We are proud to be in partnership with a national retail client at this level of sophistication and scale."
The 2011 CIO 100 awards will be presented at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Aug. 14-16 at the conclusion of the sixteenth annual CIO 100 Symposium® and Awards Ceremony.
About the CIO 100
The recipients of this year's CIO 100 award were selected through a three-step process. First, companies filled out an online application form detailing their innovative IT and business initiatives. Next, a team of judges reviewed the applications in depth, looking for unique practices and substantial results. Finally, CIO editors reviewed the judges' recommendations and voted on the final 100.
Complete coverage of the 2011 CIO 100 awards will be online at www.cio.com on Aug. 1, 2011 and in the Aug. 1 issue of CIO magazine.
About CIO Magazine
CIO produces award-winning content and community resources for information technology executives and leaders thriving and prospering in this fast-paced era of business, as well as create opportunities for information technology and consumer marketers to reach them. The CIO portfolio includes CIO.com, CIO magazine (launched in 1987), CIO Executive Programs and the CIO Executive Council. CIO properties provide business technology leaders with analysis and insight on information technology trends and a keen understanding of IT’s role in achieving business goals. The U.S. edition of the magazine and website are recipients of more than 200 awards to date, including the American Society of Business Publication Editor’s Top B-to-B Magazine since 2000 and two Grand Neals from the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards. CIO websites and printed publications appear in more than 25 countries, including Australia, Canada, Finland, India and Sweden. CIO Executive Programs—a series of face-to-face conferences including the CIO 100 Awards & Symposium™—provide educational and networking opportunities for pre-qualified corporate and government leaders. The CIO Executive Council is a professional organization of CIOs created to serve as an unbiased and trusted peer advisory group. CIO is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world’s leading media, events, and research company. Company information is available at www.idgenterprise.com.
About Wyse Technology
Wyse Technology is the global leader in Cloud Client Computing. The Wyse portfolio includes industry-leading thin, zero and cloud PC client solutions with advanced management, desktop virtualization and cloud software supporting desktops, laptops and next generation mobile devices. Cloud client computing replaces the outdated computing model of the unsecure, unreliable, energy-intensive and expensive PC, all while delivering lower TCO and a superior user experience. Wyse has shipped more than 20 million units and has over 200 million people interacting with their products each day, enabling the leading private, public, hybrid and government cloud implementations worldwide. Wyse partners with industry-leading IT vendors, including Cisco®, Citrix®, IBM®, Microsoft, and VMware® as well as globally-recognized distribution and service partners. Wyse is headquartered in San Jose, California, U.S.A., with offices worldwide.
For more information, visit the Wyse website at http://www.wyse.com or call 1-800-GET-WYSE.
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