Case Study: Equinix achieves REIT compliance and on-time financial transformation with IBM

Equinix completes twin transformations within unmovable timelines

Equinix, a global interconnection and data center company, faced the immense challenge of transforming its business and IT systems to achieve Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) status by an immovable deadline. This transformation, which was essential for realizing an estimated $340 million in savings, required new global processes and systems to manage complex financial reporting and intercompany transactions that its existing manual systems could not handle. To meet this challenge, Equinix partnered with vendor IBM and its Global Business Services division.

IBM implemented a solution that involved upgrading and migrating Equinix's systems to the Oracle R12 platform, supported by IBM Power servers, IBM storage, and AIX operating software. The IBM team provided critical project management, governance, and flexible global resources to ensure the complex technical and process transformation was completed on time and on budget. As a result, Equinix successfully achieved REIT status, securing the projected multi-million dollar economic benefits for its shareholders, while also gaining a new streamlined financial platform with greater control and reporting capabilities.

Equinix

David Wilson

VP Global Financial Operations