Del Monte Foods is one of the largest producers and distributors of food and pet products in the United States. The company relies on Microsoft products and technologies to run its technology infrastructure and recently participated in an early adopter program for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010. Del Monte is developing a SharePoint Server 2010–based application that helps the Finance department automate manual business processes such as approval workflows, and helps it ensure compliance by improving reporting capabilities. Del Monte plans to deploy similar applications for streamlining business processes to other business units throughout the company. With implementations that require little or no custom coding, Del Monte anticipates development cost savings, continued efficiency gains, and better business insights and results enterprisewide.

1. Customer Solution Case Study
Food Giant Improves Reporting, Streamlines
Development with Collaboration Platform
Overview ―We are investing a significant amount of time and
Country or Region: United States
Industry: Manufacturing—Consumer energy into SharePoint Server 2010 because we know it
packaged goods will be worth it. SharePoint Server–based collaboration
Customer Profile has become a crucial part of our enterprise.‖
Del Monte Foods, with 5,400 full-time
Jonathan Wynn, Manager, Advanced Technology, Del Monte Foods
employees, produces food and pet
products. Brands include Del Monte, Del Monte Foods is one of the largest producers and distributors
S&W, Contadina, College Inn, Meow
Mix, Kibbles 'n Bits, 9Lives, Milk-Bone,
of food and pet products in the United States. The company
Pup-Peroni, Meaty Bone, Snausages, relies on Microsoft products and technologies to run its
and Pounce.
technology infrastructure and recently participated in an early
Business Situation adopter program for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010. Del
Del Monte wanted to further enhance
efficiency and collaboration. It joined
Monte is developing a SharePoint Server 2010–based
an early adopter program for Microsoft application that helps the Finance department automate manual
SharePoint Server 2010.
business processes such as approval workflows, and helps it
Solution ensure compliance by improving reporting capabilities. Del
Del Monte deployed a financial
application on SharePoint Server 2010
Monte plans to deploy similar applications for streamlining
and plans to expand use of the new business processes to other business units throughout the
software to take advantage of mobility
and advanced collaboration features.
company. With implementations that require little or no custom
coding, Del Monte anticipates development cost savings,
Benefits
 Higher efficiency
continued efficiency gains, and better business insights and
 Streamlined business processes results enterprisewide.
 Heightened collaboration
 Rapid, repeatable development

2. ―We wanted to automate Situation gaining traction as our enterprise
Del Monte Foods takes pride in its collaboration environment. We wanted
more processes, and dedication to quality, its commitment to to see what more it could do for us.‖
consumers, and its focus on innovation.
ones with higher levels These qualities have helped the company Del Monte wanted to capitalize on this
of complexity.‖ achieve its status as a leading provider of groundswell of excitement generated
quality food and pet products, to the among users for Office SharePoint Server
Jonathan Wynn, Manager, Advanced extent that its brands are found in 8 out 2007. ―We wanted to continue to focus
Technology, Del Monte Foods of 10 households in the United States. In everyone around the SharePoint Server
2009, the company generated environment. It had become a hub of
approximately U.S.$3.6 billion in net collaboration, and we were well on our
sales. way to solving many business problems
with it. We wanted to take advantage of
Del Monte strives for continual the enhancements of SharePoint Server
innovation in all areas of its company, 2010 to continue to attract users and
including its technology infrastructure. A gain efficiencies,‖ explains Wynn.
long-time user of Microsoft products and
technologies, the company’s IT
department eagerly accepts Solution
opportunities to test and incorporate the In 2009, Wynn and his team were invited
newest technologies into its to be part of an early adopter program
environment. ―We have put a lot of for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010,
energy into fine-tuning our which allows companies to be involved
infrastructure,‖ says Jonathan Wynn, with product development teams early,
Manager, Advanced Technology at Del to provide feedback, and to gain a more
Monte, ―and we look for every thorough understanding of a new
opportunity to push the products to product’s capabilities. Participants often
achieve the highest return on our continue to conduct accelerated
investments.‖ deployments of new products and
technologies. ―We jumped at the chance
Del Monte has relied on Microsoft Office to experiment with the new technology,‖
SharePoint Server 2007 to run its says Wynn. To participate in this early
intranet, which includes departmental adoption program, Del Monte needed to
Web sites, Web-based forms and build a proof-of-concept application on
workflow processes, and document the new version of the server software.
management capabilities. While many ―We wanted to find a common, highly
business processes—including asset manual business process to automate
requests and approvals, and the with SharePoint Server 2010,‖ says Wynn.
distribution of capital funds for The team hoped that it could build a
purchases of hardware and other items— prototype application that, in the end,
were automated with Office SharePoint could be used as a template for
Server 2007, the IT department still saw automating similar processes throughout
room for growth. ―We wanted to the company.
automate more processes, and ones with
higher levels of complexity,‖ explains Wynn and his team found the business
Wynn. Again, we wanted to continue to process they were looking for in the Del
innovate. SharePoint Server was rapidly Monte Finance department. The

3. ―Workflows and content department used a SharePoint Server site reports, within a SharePoint Server 2010
for collaboration, document document library, and uses
types eliminate the act management, and forms-based preconfigured schedule ―templates.‖
approvals. ―Finance was accustomed to Each month, Finance will be able to
of copying and moving the SharePoint Server 2007 create a new set of spreadsheets based
documents—which can environment,‖ says Wynn, ―But they also on a standard format with preconfigured
had a series of processes that were information in the template. Each
introduce errors or highly manual, and highly dispersed in financial schedule has its own version
the way that they were organized and history, workflow, and content type
inconsistencies into the managed.‖ (which defines the attributes of a
process.‖ document) associated with it, which will
The department maintains approximately help to improve consistency and speed
Jonathan Wynn, Manager, Advanced 50 different financial schedules, monthly reporting and approval
Technology, Del Monte Foods
managed in Microsoft Office Excel 2007 processes.
spreadsheet software, to track corporate
accounting information including ―Workflows and content types eliminate
balance sheet summaries, general ledger the act of copying and moving
information, income statements, foreign documents—which can introduce errors
dividend analyses, interest expenses, or inconsistencies into the process,‖
inventory, and more. Each schedule had explains Wynn. ―Now, all a user has to do
to be finalized, reviewed, and approved is change the information in a schedule
each month to meet governmental and the workflow takes care of the
reporting requirements such as the routing.‖ The workflow also monitors the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. due date of the associated financial
report. ―Approvers are alerted if a
Each month, users created new sets of schedule isn’t approved,‖ explains Wynn.
the spreadsheets, often on their local ―Everyone involved in the process is
computers, which made it difficult to keenly aware of the date by which the
ensure consistency. Some stored the books need to be closed.‖
spreadsheets on network file shares,
some in SharePoint Server document With SharePoint Server 2010, Del Monte
libraries, and still others relied on printed can also make documents and sites
documents in binders. And without available to employees, offline. Through
automated workflows, it was time- Microsoft SharePoint Workspace 2010,
consuming for users to properly route users will have access to content
the spreadsheets for approval. ―It was regardless of their location. SharePoint
even harder to ensure that approvers Workspace will also enable the IT
would meet their deadlines,‖ adds Wynn. department to make SharePoint sites
and associated workflows accessible
Del Monte created a proof-of-concept from users’ portable computers. ―These
application called the Finance Schedule capabilities will eliminate business
Approval application and continued its slowdowns due to travel,‖ says Wynn.
development work on Microsoft
SharePoint Server 2010. The Del Monte Wynn’s team used SharePoint
Finance Schedule Approval application Composites, a capability of SharePoint
will help the Finance department Server 2010, to rapidly create
centrally manage financial schedules, or collaborative solutions for business

4. users—without writing new code. For Visio Services in SharePoint Server 2010
―SharePoint Server 2010 instance, Del Monte is using Microsoft to share Web-based documents created
is the place where we SharePoint Designer 2010 to customize in Microsoft Visio 2010 without incurring
the Finance Schedule Approval per-user software licensing costs. ―With
can bring all of this application’s workflow processes. ―We’re Visio Services, we will be able to give
learning from this experience of building users access to Visio documents without
information ... together the Finance Schedule Approval purchasing the full client software,‖ says
under one shell.‖ application how we can use SharePoint Wynn. ―SharePoint Server 2010 is the
Server 2010 to deploy similar workflows place where we can bring all of this
Jonathan Wynn, Manager, Advanced across the company, with little or no information—whether it’s a mash-up that
Technology, Del Monte Foods custom coding. This will allow us to combines information from Office Excel
eventually put many of the in Visio Services or information from
customization capabilities in the hands of third-party databases in Excel Services—
the business users,‖ says Wynn. together under one shell.‖
Michael Bernot, Architectural Analyst at Wynn continues, ―We are very much at
Del Monte, who is ensuring a smooth the beginning of exploring and
transition for Finance from Office implementing all that SharePoint Server
SharePoint Server 2007 to SharePoint 2010 has to offer. But we are committed
Server 2010, also uses SharePoint to expanding our use of the product as
Designer 2010 to apply the same the basis for our enterprise collaboration
customizations that were made to the platform.‖ Del Monte is in a proof-of-
Office SharePoint Server 2007 concept phase with its solution; it plans
environment to the Finance Schedule to make the Finance Schedule Approval
Approval application’s user interface. application available in a production
―SharePoint Designer 2010 is extremely capacity to users in the Finance
useful in helping us make this a smooth department, and to other employees
transition for users,‖ says Bernot. requiring access to financial information,
in summer of 2010. It will continue to
The IT department is exploring the use of deploy new sites and applications based
a feature of SharePoint Composites, on SharePoint Server 2010 throughout
Business Connectivity Services, to enable the year.
users to connect to enterprise data, such
as information stored in Microsoft SQL Del Monte relies on Microsoft System
Server data management software. ―We Center Operations Manager 2007 to
are in the process of researching the manage its SharePoint Server
concept of connecting to and integrating environment. ―We treat SharePoint
data from our SQL Server data stores Server as a first-class enterprise
into SharePoint,‖ says Wynn. application,‖ says Wynn. ―It has to be
available all of the time.‖ Del Monte uses
Del Monte is also investigating the use of the Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
SharePoint Insights, features of Management Pack for System Center
SharePoint Server 2010 that allow users Operations Manager 2007 to monitor the
to find and work with information from a health of its SharePoint Server
variety of sources within the SharePoint environment and ensure top
Server environment. The Enterprise performance and availability. ―We are
Operations group is considering using very excited about the new functionality

5. of the management pack, which allows the system,‖ says Wynn. ―Those involved
―SharePoint Server 2010 us to monitor the health of our complex in the approval process receive alerts
will make it easier for Del SharePoint Server 2010 environment and that they just can’t ignore. It’s very
our server farm.‖ Del Monte also uses transparent, very successful.‖
Monte to become more Microsoft Forefront Protection for
SharePoint to help protect its SharePoint Streamlined Business Processes
efficient and Server–based intranet. ―Safeguarding our Del Monte plans to carry its success with
streamlined.‖ digital assets is a priority for us. We have the finance application to all corners of
very large Web applications for sales, the enterprise. ―We approached the
Jonathan Wynn, Manager, Advanced finance, marketing, research, and quality Finance Schedule Approval application
Technology, Del Monte Foods
systems.‖ with the mindset of applying excellent
technical tools to a process that is
unique to finance but based on a
Benefits common scenario, and then expanding
Del Monte made significant progress and letting that model migrate into other
toward achieving widespread enterprise business units,‖ says Wynn.
collaboration with Office SharePoint
Server 2007. By taking advantage of the The approach is working, as the
advancements in SharePoint Server 2010, popularity of the SharePoint Server
the company believes it can further collaboration environment at Del Monte
improve its collaboration infrastructure, continues to grow. ―Other groups have
realize broader efficiency gains, taken notice of what we are
streamline development, and rapidly accomplishing in the Finance
provide more visible business insights. department. We have gotten so many
requests for applications to streamline
Higher Efficiency business processes that we have enough
With the Finance Schedule Approval workflow and intranet projects to last a
application, Del Monte expects to make full-time developer approximately two
it easier for employees to produce high years,‖ says Wynn. ―Users are requesting
fidelity reports and comply with a marketing portal application,
requirements, because workflow marketing research libraries, key
processes are automated and connected performance indicators, forms based on
to the document libraries in which its the Microsoft Office InfoPath
Office Excel 2007–based financial data is information-gathering program—a range
stored. ―SharePoint Server 2010 will of tools that ultimately help drive
make it easier for Del Monte to become collaboration and deeper business
more efficient and streamlined,‖ says insights.‖
Wynn. ―With automated workflow, we’ll
know when a schedule was approved Heightened Collaboration
and who approved it. This traceable And Del Monte is pleased that
knowledge will simplify audits and help SharePoint Server is being accepted by
us maintain compliance.‖ The automated users as a foundation for enterprise
workflows, which are programmed to collaboration that connects with
calculate true business working days and complementary technologies. ―We see
launch two days before a schedule is due SharePoint Server as the focal point of
to be approved, will streamline the entire collaboration, with other tools extending
process. ―It takes the guesswork out of from it, like spokes of a wheel,‖ says

6. ―SharePoint Designer Wynn. For instance, Del Monte uses
Microsoft Office Communications Server
manageability of the SharePoint Server
environment. ―We are getting many calls
2010 represents vast 2007 R2 to streamline communication. from our business units—marketing,
Users can see, within the SharePoint operations, plant floor managers—who
improvements over the Server environment, another user’s want to take manual processes and
previous generation of presence and can immediately start an
instant messaging session, escalate to a
convert them to a workflow that can be
accessed and used from a SharePoint
customization tools.‖ phone call, or invite others to an online site,‖ says Wynn. SharePoint Composites
meeting without having to open a will allow developers, and even business
Michael Bernot, Architectural Analyst, Del
different program. ―The interoperability users, to create self-service solutions and
Monte Foods
of SharePoint Server 2010 and Office advanced applications with very little
Communications Server creates a effort.
seamless experience for users, which
helps them collaborate and With SharePoint Designer 2010, Del
communicate easier and faster to Monte developers and other advanced
complete projects,‖ adds Wynn. users can implement reusable workflows,
connect to external data, and rapidly
Del Monte is so confident about the develop other customizations with no
long-term benefits it can achieve manual coding. Bernot says, ―SharePoint
through heightened collaboration and Designer 2010 represents vast
faster, smoother business processes that improvements over the previous
it has increased the size of Wynn’s team generation of customization tools. It’s
by 75 percent since 2007. ―We are more intuitive and enables us to
investing a significant amount of time manipulate the SharePoint environment
and energy into SharePoint Server 2010 much more easily. It’s made my life a lot
because we know it will be worth it. easier.‖
SharePoint Server–based collaboration
has become a crucial part of our ―We’re excited about SharePoint Server
enterprise,‖ says Wynn. ―We will save 2010,‖ says Wynn. ―Adopting the
time, boost efficiency, eliminate the platform early on will definitely give us
potential for mistakes, reduce duplicated an advantage over the competition. We’ll
efforts, reduce paperwork—overall the be able to use the new capabilities of the
SharePoint Server 2010 solution will help product to become even more efficient
us become an even leaner organization.‖ in all areas of the business, continuing to
build on our solid collaboration
Rapid, Repeatable Development environment, rolling out more and more
SharePoint Server 2010 will help Del tools to make business users more
Monte achieve widespread cost savings productive, and enabling the IT
because it helps the development team department to support them more
create rapid, repeatable processes that efficiently.‖
require little or no custom coding. And it
allows the IT department to give
business users the tools they need to
customize SharePoint Server sites, create
workflows, and implement other
collaborative solutions—without
compromising the integrity or

7. For More Information Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
For more information about Microsoft Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 is the
products and services, call the business collaboration platform for the
Microsoft Sales Information Center at Enterprise and the Internet.
(800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the
Microsoft Canada Information Centre For more information about Microsoft
at (877) 568-2495. Customers in the SharePoint Server 2010, go to:
United States and Canada who are www.microsoft.com/sharepoint
deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach
Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD)
services at (800) 892-5234. Outside the
50 United States and Canada, please
contact your local Microsoft subsidiary.
To access information using the World
Wide Web, go to:
www.microsoft.com
For more information about Del Monte
Foods products and services, visit the
Web site at:
www.delmonte.com
Software and Services  Microsoft Office
 Microsoft Server Product Portfolio − Microsoft Office Communications
− Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 Server 2007 R2
− Microsoft SharePoint Designer − Microsoft Office Excel 2007
2010 − Microsoft Office InfoPath
− Microsoft SQL Server
− Microsoft System Center  Technologies
Operations Manager 2007 − Excel Services in Microsoft
− Microsoft Forefront Protection for SharePoint Server 2010
SharePoint − Visio Services in Microsoft
SharePoint Server 2010
This case study is for informational purposes only.
MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
Document published May 2010