U.S.-based Retail Apparel Outlet Uses Cradlepoint Solutions

Popular Clothing Outlet Uses Cradlepoint Solutions

Apparel Brand Gets Broadband Backup, VPN Support, and Cloud-Based Router Management

A tree falls in high winds. A snowstorm sweeps into town. A backhoe digs a little too far to the left. All of these acts of nature (or of humans) threaten business continuity. When a business loses its Internet connections, it loses revenue — and a whole lot more.

Gartner estimates that every hour of Internet downtime typically costs enterprise organizations in the neighborhood of $300,000. In addition to an immediate hit on revenue from Point-of-Sale system failure, other costs can include:

Non-PCI compliance, which can leave businesses open to security risks and fraud.
Inoperable inventory management systems, which can bring operations to a halt.
Inability to sync cloud-based applications for communications, security, and data storage.
The need for IT truck rolls, and dependence on cable company repair schedules.
Damage to brand reputation and loyalty, which can lead to further loss of revenue.

In this article, we’re examining a United States-based apparel brand that is a vertically integrated manufacturer and retailer of clothing for men, women, children – and even dogs. All phases of production, from cutting and sewing to marketing and photography, are done at the company’s downtown Los Angeles factory.

The company has more than 280 stores located throughout the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia and has taken steps to make sure that none of its stores’ Internet connections goes down—ever.

The Challenge

Constant, Company-Wide Connectivity While Being Budget-Conscious

Each retail location needs PCI-compliant Internet access to process credit card transactions, conduct time management tasks, provide email communications, and manage inventory control.

And, as one of the few apparel companies to do all of its manufacturing in the United States, the brand must use every angle to compete against foreign companies with far lower operating costs

Retail Clothing Outlet Connectivity Solutions with Cradlepoint Branch Adapters

The Solution

Cradlepoint CBA850 and L950 Routers, Cloud-Enabled Management and Application

One of those cost-saving angles is using Cradlepoint CBA850 and L950 Series Routers for wireless Internet backup. The routers are also capable of using IPsec protocol for VPN to securely connect with their Cisco devices, which allows the company to create virtual private networks between its headquarters and all of its retail locations around the world.

Cradlepoint Branch Adapters for Retail Clothing Outlet Connectivity

“IPsec capability is important because we’re phasing out our old VPN and moving forward with Cisco,” says the organization’s Director of Store IT Infrastructure. “I also like the fact that the Cradlepoint device is carrier agnostic and works with just about any carrier network available, giving our stores a wireless failover solution if they go offline. Carrier flexibility, plus IPsec and its capability to be a wireless controller, is a great combination for us.”

The Results

Constant Uptime, Reliable Backups, and Easy Configuration

The Director of Store IT Infrastructure also reports that the company has installed Cradlepoint Routers in its stores to deliver 99.99% uptime for its store networks using wireless as a failover solution. Primary Internet service providers offer only a 99.5% availability standard, which equals about 4 hours of downtime a month—or as much as $1,200,000 in lost revenue. With Cradlepoint’s “four-nines” 4G LTE availability, the Director of Store IT can measure Internet downtime by seconds or minutes, not by hours.

By using Cradlepoint’s NetCloud for Branch, the IT team can remotely manage all 280 of its routers over the network. It also allows the team to identify whether devices are offline or online, configure and upgrade routers automatically, and configure individual routers or groups of routers—all from one unified dashboard.

Instant Backup Solution

About 80% of the company’s stores’ operations rely on a stable and fast internet connection. If an Internet provider’s physical line goes down, the store stands to lose functionality and sales – both of which put added stress on store employees and, more importantly, create a negative customer experience.

“If the Internet connection is down,” the Director says, “our stores aren’t able to perform many of their daily operations, putting them in a very frustrating position. With the Cradlepoint and service from whatever carrier is dominant in the area, I can get the store up and operational within minutes.”

Easily Configured

With Cradlepoint cloud management, the brand can remotely manage its routers over the network. This solution enables IT departments to identify devices whether they are offline or online, configure and upgrade routers automatically, and enable configuration of individual or groups of routers – all from one unified dashboard.

“Many of our store employees are not technically savvy,” the Director says. “By having the tools to manage our routers through the cloud, we don’t require IT staff at every store location. We can do it from headquarters.”

Floor Coverage

According to the Director of Store IT, most of the brand’s retail locations range from 1,400 to 1,500 square feet. With some wireless solutions, companies might have to buy additional equipment to extend the signal.

“A single Cradlepoint router covers the entire store,” he says. “We’ve saved money and time by not having to install two or three access points per store to get the coverage we need.”

Flexibility

In one Cradlepoint router, the organization gets wireless backup support, VPN connectivity, and WiFi capability. And all of this, he says, is available at a very competitive price, and with dependable customer support.

“Cradlepoint is definitely a great solution,” the Director of Store IT says. “We tried to get the same functionality from somewhere else, and it proved to be expensive. Too expensive!”

Our Team

Device Provisioning, Activation and Installation Services

USAT specializes in designing and deploying fixed and mobile wireless data connectivity solutions for organizations of all sizes — complete with implementation, training, proof of concept (POC), system auditing, and on-site RF surveying services with optional engineering maintenance contracts. Our team not only helps you select, provision, and activate devices, we make sure they work in practical applications and real-life situations.

For over 25 years, USAT has provided cellular networking solutions for various retail outlets across the USA. With our extensive catalog of world-class routers, gateways, and software designed for remote monitoring and management in even the harshest environments — you can count on us to get and keep you connected.

Better mobile connectivity translates to less manual equipment maintenance, reduced downtime, and an overall increase in your business's ROI. Contact the experts at USAT to learn how our wireless networking solutions can help meet your organization's exacting needs.