Russell's Convenience is on Cloud 9

ARMONK, N.Y. -- HJB Convenience LLC has become one of the convenience store industry's first adopters of cloud computing. The chain, operating as Russell's Convenience with stores in Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco, is now incorporating cloud computing from IBM Corp.

The move was made to better integrate and share data across the company's 24 stores. "Prior to working with IBM, Russell's management team was struggling with project management and keeping track of day-to-day business issues," said an IBM press release. "As a result, many tasks fell through the cracks."

Cloud computing now allows Rusell's licensee stores to access and share information regardless of their location. Also, those store have instant access to cloud-based social networking and collaboration tools, including file storing and sharing, e-mail, instant messaging and activity management.

Russell's chose IBM's LotusLive cloud for its business. Adopting cloud computing could be a trend for c-stores, as well as all other small- and medium-sized businesses, IBM noted. According to AMI Partners, businesses will spend more than $49 billion on cloud services in 2015, nearly double today's figure.

"IBM is helping our licensees to operate as one business -- one that is connected, informed and cohesive," said Raymond Huff, president of HJB Convenience and Russell's Convenience.