Efficiency Is Key for the Click and Collect Model
Efficiency, flexibility, and seamless customer experiences are paramount in today’s fast-paced retail landscape. For a UK-based leader in ‘click and collect’ services, these factors are key to delivering on its customer promises and driving its ambitious growth. The company has re-engineered its network infrastructure by implementing Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions (Ericsson) NetCloud Service for Branch - a solution enabling it to cut costs, simplify operations, and future-proof its network as it continues to expand across the UK.
The organization launched in 2013 at Milton Keynes train station with a simple yet powerful premise: to provide a convenient service for online shoppers to collect and return parcels at a time and location that suits them. Since then, the company has expanded to over 80 locations across the UK, including train stations, universities, shopping centers, and business parks. Their partnerships with prominent retailers like Amazon, Asos, and Morrisons ensure the service is available to a wide customer base.
The hallmark of its business model is convenience. Customers no longer have to wait at home for deliveries or worry about missed packages. They can pick up their parcels at their nearest location in less than three minutes. However, providing such efficient service requires a robust and reliable network infrastructure that supports real-time data and ensures near-constant uptime. The challenge of maintaining such a network across many different, often small and busy locations led the company to explore new solutions.
Challenge: Achieving Flexibility and Reliability at Scale
As operations grew, so did the complexity of managing its network infrastructure. The company’s legacy routing platform required fixed data lines, which were expensive and slow to deploy—taking up to 12 weeks for a single location. These broadband connections were prone to service interruptions, especially during peak business hours, causing network downtime and disrupting operations. Network issues were a severe impediment to a company like this, which promises speed and reliability to its customers.
Additionally, the expansion plans required a more agile and scalable solution. The company wanted to open new stores rapidly while maintaining a small IT team. This meant finding a solution that was not only cost-effective but also easy to deploy and manage remotely. After evaluating several networking options, the organization chose Ericsson’s NetCloud Service for Branch as their new networking solution.
Solution: Ericsson’s NetCloud Service
Ericsson’s NetCloud Service for Branch offered the flexibility they needed to manage network operations seamlessly. The solution integrates cloud-managed networking with built-in LTE connectivity, supporting multiple connection types such as DSL, Ethernet, WiFi, and dual-modem cellular options. This flexibility was a game-changer, enabling them to maintain a stable network in virtually any location, whether in a busy commuter hub or a shared retail space.
According to the company’s CTO, Ericsson offered “the best product for the best price,” beating out other vendors they had considered. The NetCloud platform’s ability to support multiple WANs (Wide Area Networks) and provide advanced security, private networking, and high-performance WiFi from a single device meant that the company could now manage all its network needs with a streamlined and space-saving solution.
Faster Deployment and Day-1 Availability
One of the most significant benefits experienced with Ericsson’s solution was the speed of deployment. The previous fixed data line setup required weeks to install, but with Ericsson’s cloud-managed routers, the company could get a new store up and running within hours. This rapid deployment capability is crucial, allowing the business to expand into new markets continually. Ericsson’s all-in-one network solution eliminated the need for multiple devices, reducing the required space required for hardware and allowing the company to operate in smaller, space-constrained locations.
The CTO highlighted the advantage of shrinking the hardware footprint: “Where previously we needed to accommodate a meter-high cabinet, now we’re able to open new locations with a device the size of a box of chocolates.”
Cost Savings: Lower CapEx and OpEx
The move to Ericsson has significantly reduced both capital expenditures (CapEx) and operational expenditures (OpEx). The all-in-one solution eliminated the need for multiple devices and reduced the cost of network management. The company saw a nearly 50% reduction in technology-related expenses after switching to Ericsson.
This cost-saving extends beyond just hardware. Ericsson’s NetCloud Service allows the company’s small IT team to monitor and manage the network remotely, addressing any issues without sending a technician on-site. This remote management capability has been instrumental in keeping operating costs low while ensuring high levels of network performance.
The CTO further emphasized the impact: “The cloud management capability is a big support to our team, allowing them to remotely provision hundreds of devices around the country and isolate and address any issues without having to go into the field.”
Enhanced Reliability and Uptime
In addition to cost savings and faster deployment, Ericsson’s solution has provided the business with unparalleled reliability. The NetCloud Service offers built-in network redundancy through its dual-modem, multi-carrier cellular support, ensuring that the stores stay connected even during a broadband outage. This level of redundancy has allowed the company to achieve 99.99% uptime, a critical factor for a consumer-facing business that depends on smooth, continuous operations.
Ericsson’s multi-WAN support allows the business to switch seamlessly between wired and mobile connections, ensuring the network remains operational regardless of the circumstances. This flexibility is particularly useful in busy retail environments, where wired connections sometimes falter under high usage.
A Future-Proof Solution for Continued Growth
Looking ahead, the company plans to continue its aggressive expansion. The company aims to grow its store network tenfold, and Ericsson’s solution will play a crucial role in supporting this growth. Ericsson’s NetCloud Service has become the backbone of its network infrastructure by enabling rapid deployment, cost-effective management, and flexible, reliable connectivity.
Compact hardware, cloud-managed services, and high uptime ensure that the organization can continue offering the seamless, convenient service its customers expect while scaling its operations efficiently.
The partnership with Ericsson demonstrates how the right technology can enable growth, efficiency, and reliability in even the most demanding retail environments. By switching to Ericsson’s NetCloud Service for Branch, the company has cut costs, reduced its hardware footprint, and improved network performance across its expanding footprint. With a future-proof solution in place, the business is well-positioned to achieve its goal of becoming the global leader in ‘click & collect’ services.
About MCA and Our CNS Team
MCA is one of the largest and most trusted integrators in the United States, offering world-class voice, data, and security solutions that enhance the quality, safety, and productivity of customers, operations, and lives. More than 65,000 customers trust MCA to provide carefully researched solutions for a safe, secure, and more efficient workplace.
Our Cellular Networking Solutions (CNS) team (formerly known as USAT) is made up of certified experts in designing and deploying fixed and mobile wireless data connectivity solutions for public and private enterprises nationwide - complete with implementation, training, proof of concept (POC), system auditing, and on-site RF surveying services with optional engineering maintenance contracts.
Our extensive catalog of world-class routers, gateways, and software designed for remote monitoring and management in even the harshest environments allows us to deliver a full suite of reliable technologies capped with a service-first approach.
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