Gas Stations Deploy Cradlepoint Connectivity

Gas Stations Deploy Cradlepoint Solutions

Keeping Retail Gas Branches Connected Is Critical to Operations

The next time you’re out and about, driving around town in your car - look around. Chances are, within a few minutes, you’ll likely pass a gas station. There are nearly 145,000 gas stations across the United States, with over 10,000 of them in the state of California alone and over 80% of all stations also featured convenience stores for additional revenue streams.

For retail gas chains that are managing multiple - or even hundreds - of locations, keeping them all connected to their central office and the systems they need to conduct their daily business is of paramount importance. Factor in that many retail gas stations typically operate 24/7 and provide essential services to their customers beyond simply selling gas - such as selling groceries and providing ATM services - maintaining reliable “always-on” connectivity is of paramount importance.

The Challenge

Connecting 100+ Branches and Reducing Expenses

A Southern California gas station chain had been using DSL to maintain connectivity between its home office and over 100 locations. From a budgeting perspective, this was problematic as the costs for broadband service could vary dramatically. Two identical gas stations across town street from one another could incur anywhere from $50 to $150 per month in Internet service charges.

When setting up new gas station locations, they were required to hire a third-party or pay ISP’s to run fiber lines, which was as costly as it was time consuming. A completely wireless solution was appealing. This company had previously used Cradlepoint solutions for several years as a failover solution in locations that regularly experience connectivity outages from their primary ISP’s.

Gas Station Cellular Networking Solutions

In addition to taking control of its budget, the company also needed to ensure that it had sufficient bandwidth to run their many custom applications, including a cloud-based timekeeping system for employee management, a centralized back office system used to control POS and product promotions, and an inventory control system that they had developed in-house.

The Solution

Cradlepoint LTE Routers and NetCloud for Branch Service Connect Locations and Replace Outdated Infrastructure

The gas company was already utilizing Cradlepoint technologies as an integral part of their wireless backup solution within select locations, and with the widespread availability of 4G LTE, they looked to Cradlepoint as a primary connection for all of their gas stations where LTE coverage was available - roughly 106 of their existing retail locations.

“DSL billing has been out of control. With mobile broadband, however, we can pool our data plans with Verizon so if one area sees more usage, we don’t get hit with overages,” noted the company’s Director of Technology at the time. In addition, with LTE, the company felt they now had sufficient bandwidth to run their custom applications and no longer needed wired connections for the majority of their facilities.

To achieve these cost savings, the company originally selected the CBA550 with WiPipe. However, since the deployment of their initial solution back in 2015, Cradlepoint has since released the L950 - which comes with the added - and much needed - benefit of supporting Out of Band Management (OOBM) - and is a better option for current and future deployments. While their older (CBA550) and newer (L950) solutions are more than sufficient, the company is already looking toward the future when the time is ripe to deploy 5G solutions that utilize the even newer Cradlepoint W1850 wideband adapter. However, where budget is a deciding factor, the L950 is the most optimal cost-effective solution.

The company made the decision to do away with traditional phone lines in locations where LTE is available, saving money by implementing a VoIP phone system. At most stations, Cradlepoint solutions, together with Verizon 4G and 5G LTE services, replaced a DSL line and multiple phone lines.

The gas station chain is now also harnessing the power NetCloud for Branch Service, Cradlepoint’s centralized remote management software. By remotely monitoring and managing their systems, they don’t need to rely on staff in the stores to address Internet connectivity issues. Additionally, the company’s IT department can monitor, troubleshoot, and resolve possible connectivity issues remotely without sending an IT person on site. The IT staff can also remotely upgrade firmware, configure devices, and set data usage alerts, saving time and money.

The Results

Cradlepoint Provides Strategic and Operational Advantages

By deploying Cradlepoint technology, the gas company gained a number of strategic advantages, including:

Affordability

The cost savings of going from DSL and multiple phone lines to 4G LTE have been significant and provide the company with more stable and predictable broadband/telecom costs.

The broadband cost savings paid for the Cradlepoint solutions in a matter of months (weeks at some facilities).

Centralized Management

The cost savings of going from DSL and multiple phone lines to 4G LTE have been significant and provide the company with more stable and predictable broadband/telecom costs.

The broadband cost savings paid for the Cradlepoint solutions in a matter of months (weeks at some facilities).

Performance

The IT staff can segment the Cradlepoint routers into several VPNs in order to control traffic and bandwidth during peak periods of use and maximize security.

New Revenue Opportunities

The company previously hosted third-party ATM machines but is now able to deploy its own, creating another growing revenue stream.

The Director of Technology concludes, “We’ve identified a way to not only optimize the technology in almost all of our stores but also to add more money to our bottom line in the process. We have the reliable bandwidth we need to run our various applications, our telephony system, and even new product and service offerings for our customers, and we can manage it all centrally using cloud management to reduce the high costs of wired bandwidth while eliminating outages that would affect our stores’ business.”

Our Team

Device Provisioning, Activation and Installation Services

USAT specializes in designing and deploying 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 mobile communications solutions for various retail applications 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.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on July 14, 2015, and has been updated to include new devices and technologies available to organizations looking to implement similar solutions.