Helsana Group Replaces DB2 with Oracle Database

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“Replacing the mainframe for the SAP databases has allowed us to reduce IT operating costs in the SAP environment and increase the flexibility of our IT use. As a strategic database platform, Oracle is an essential element that supports our realignment.”

–MAX BÜTTIKER,MANAGER SAP customer Competence Center, Helsana-Group

Switzerland’s biggest health insurer replaces mainframe in SAP environment with new strategic www.helsana.ch

Industry: Insurance

HELSANA GROUP REPLACES DB2 W I T H O R A C L E D ATA B A S E

Workforce: 3,000

Oracle products: Oracle 11.2.02 for SAP

Key benefits: Strategic database, cost savings, more flexibility and better performance

SAP: ERP ECC 6.0, FI,

CO, HCM, HR-PF,

FS-ICM Enterprise Portal,

ESS, MSS, LSO, ECM

Infrastructure: Database layer IBM servers with Red Hat Linux, application layer Standard Intel servers with Windows and VMware ESX

Last year the Helsana Group decided to phase out its z/OS mainframe environment in favor of a new client/server IT landscape. It was decided to replace IBM’s DB2 with Oracle Database as the group’s strategic database platform. “In March 2012 we passed an important mile­ stone on the road to a new IT landscape,” says Max Büttiker, Manager of the SAP Customer Competence Center at Helsana. On this date, the databases for the SAP applications, which have been in use for a long time and have around 3,000 users, were migrated from the IBM zOS mainframe with DB2 to a client/­ server hardware setup (with x3850 as the data­ base server) using Red Hat Linux and Oracle Database 11g. The application servers are standard Intel systems running Windows and VMware ESX.

Support for migration project

The SAP applications themselves were virtu-ally unaffected by the project to migrate from DB2 to Oracle Database 11g. Infrastructure experts from SAP Switzerland and Oracle collaborated on the project. The migration con-cept was desi­ gned by SAP, who also supplied the migra­ tion tools for the export of the DB2 (Version 9.1) database. One of the first steps was to create a sandbox environment and test the export tools. The various systems, including the D, Q, and P systems, were then migrated and the latest version of Solution Manager was installed and thoroughly tested. “At the end of the day, we implemented the DB2-to-Oracle migration exactly as planned,” recalls Büttiker. “A few issues with the export tools were resolved with the help of SAP. The migration required a Uni­ code conversion, which was also successfully implemented. The adaptation of various interfaces also went smoothly, with no major delays.”

Helsana DB2 migration to Oracle Database

“New environment running perfectly”

The new SAP environment with Oracle Database 11g is “running perfectly”, says Büttiker with satisfaction. Even without detai­ led measurements, it was clear from the outset “that response times have im-proved, even though no database optimizations have been carried out so far”. As the IT team at Helsana also discovered: “The high integration of Oracle in SAP has several advantages, for example in system administration.” So far the Helsana Group has not taken advan­ tage of Oracle Database 11g features such as Advanced Compression or Advanced Security. However, these are possible options for the future, especially as the company is already familiar with compression processes in a data­ base environment. The Oracle database for the ERP system is currently around 500 GB. “Replacing the mainframe has allowed us to reduce IT operating costs in the SAP environ­ ment and increase the flexibility of our IT use,” says Büttiker. “As a strategic database platform, Oracle is an essential element that supports us.”

Helsana Group

The Helsana Group is Switzerland’s leading healthcare insurer, providing illness and accident insurance and other health-related services to private individuals and enterpri­ ses. With premium revenues of 5.6 billion Swiss francs, the company occupies the top position on the Swiss insurance market. The Helsana Group operates in all regions of the country and employs 3,000 people. It is a non-listed stock corporation structured as a holding company. The Helsana Group in­ cludes Helsana, Progrès, Sansan, Avanex and Maxi.ch (for more information, visit www.helsana.ch). The Helsana Group protects almost 1.9 million people in Switzerland against the financial consequences of illness, accident, maternity and old age. In its corpo­ rate insurance business, which operates solely under the Helsana brand, Helsana insures 58,000 companies and organizations (with over 710,000 insured persons) against the financial consequences of employee incapacity due to illness or accident. The group also offers corporate health management services.

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