Case Study: Colruyt Group Services achieves 11% CICS MSU reduction and lower IBM MLC costs with BMC Software Subsystem Optimizer for zEnterprise

Belgian-based retailer Colruyt Group controls mainframe costs with advanced subsystem optimization

Colruyt Group, a Belgian retailer competing in a tight-margin European market, needed to support steady growth while keeping prices low. Rising transaction volumes strained its mainframe—running core apps like store replenishment and pricing—so IT sought ways to reduce IBM monthly license charge (MLC) costs without hindering operations.

Using BMC Subsystem Optimizer for zEnterprise, Colruyt moved CICS subsystems to LPARs separate from Db2, lowering the peak 4‑hour rolling average and reducing MLC charges. The change cut CICS MSUs by 11%, significantly reduced monthly CICS fees, kept costs steady as transactions grew, and paved the way for additional BMC MLC cost-management tools for better visibility and forecasting.

Colruyt Group Services

Peter Vanbellingen

Director, Business Processes & Systems