api software announced it has joined the VMware Technology Alliance Partner (TAP) program as a Premier Partner. The VMware TAP program enables partner organizations to take advantage of VMware resources and expertise to deliver enhanced value to shared customers. The program also supports its partners’ development of VMware infrastructure solutions, helping them virtualize their clients’ data centers.

API’s suite of workforce management applications is designed to streamline the management and administration of employee information within hospitals and health systems. The 24/7 nature of the hospital environment makes system management especially challenging. The ability to run API’s applications on a virtual server reduces the amount of time IT administrators must spend on tasks such as system provisioning, configuration, monitoring and maintenance, resulting in improved productivity and minimum system interruption. In addition, server resource usage for API applications is typically maximized only a few days during a hospital’s pay cycle. Virtualization enables unused server resources to be shared with other applications in the hospital on lower usage days for improved resource utilization.

“When we were evaluating workforce management solutions, it was important that the vendor we selected fully support the virtual environment, as we are increasingly moving our applications to virtual servers,” said Brian Schwinger, director of infrastructure services at The Methodist Hospital System, based in Houston, Texas. “API’s support of virtual technology enabled us to implement the entire suite of API workforce management applications with only a slight expansion of our existing footprint. As a result, we have been able to increase efficiencies in our data center while ensuring that API applications function optimally and with minimal downtime.”

“API is committed to improving the product and service offerings we provide our customers,” said Luis Garcia, president and chief executive officer of API. “Our support of VMware’s virtualization technology enables our clients to consolidate their IT infrastructure resources, helping them increase application availability, maximize storage efficiency and streamline maintenance. Our clients are able to significantly reduce the number of servers and related IT hardware they require — eliminating power, cooling and floor space constraints and resulting in a lower total cost of ownership.”

API currently utilizes VMware Lab Manager to develop, test and support its applications, enabling IT staff to pool servers and other hardware resources and share them across development and test teams. As a VMware Premier Partner, API gains a number of benefits, including the use of VMware testing software and marketing tools, access to technical and marketing support, assistance in developing specific go-to-market plans, and VMware software licenses for testing and integration.