Restaurant Chain Chooses Cradlepoint for Connectivity

Regional Restaurant Chain Connects More Than 650 Locations

By Implementing Cradlepoint Networking Solutions To Reduce Costs, Increase Bandwidth, And Expedite Deployment

In the mid-1950s, a single restaurant opened in Atlanta, Georgia. It has since grown to more than 1,900 locations. The company's distinctive signs are now familiar landmarks along city streets and interstate highways across the United States. The restaurants are located in 25 states and are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and are a regional cultural icon in the Southern United States. The chain is noted for outstanding customer service and high-quality food at reasonable prices.

Interestingly, the company prides itself on not being an early adopter: its IT strategy is to let the market develop the best solutions to meet its needs. For example, when it came to credit card processing, the company had used dial-up Internet connections for years, waiting for the industry to develop a more flexible, economically viable solution.

Because of the geographical diversity of its restaurant locations, the chain needed a solution to take advantage of the growing cellular network, keep its monthly wireless carrier costs low, was easy to implement, and was compact enough to fit into its small restaurant footprints.

"When we realized that we could tackle our problem with a cellular-based solution, we reached out to several vendors," says the restaurant chain's Director of IT. "We narrowed that down to two and trialed those solutions in the field. Based on ease of configuration, the simplicity of the device, and overall design and capabilities, we chose CradlePoint."

As the chain rolled out CradlePoint solutions to more than 650 restaurant locations, it began using their NetCloud Services for Branch. This network management platform helps the IT team configure and manage its rapidly expanding network of CradlePoint solutions.

The Challenge

Slow Credit Card Transactions and Single Connectivity

The chain's previous dial-up solution posed two problems: slow credit card transaction speeds and dependence on a single connectivity solution. The company had resorted to installing additional phone lines in some locations, but the problems persisted. The company wanted to move to mobile broadband but thought it was still too expensive. It also considered installing wired Internet access. But the chain's restaurants are designed so efficiently that running the necessary wires and conduits would have been costly and too disruptive. IT knew mobile broadband was the way to go—if it could only find the right solution to meet its needs.

"Our credit card transaction times were, in the worst case scenario, hovering around 15 seconds of processing time," the IT Director says. "Even in the worst case, a cellular or broadband solution would reduce that to five or six seconds. That would improve customer satisfaction and enable us to cash out more people."

The Solution

Cradlepoint IBR650C Wireless Routers Provide Wireless Connectivity and Streamlined Management

In 2014, the restaurant chain initially installed Cradlepoint wireless routers in its stores. The original solution they deployed, while still viable, now has more modern options available. The chain began installing Cradlepoint IBR600 routers (3G) followed by deployments of the IBR650 (3G/4G) upon its later release.

Today, their team would deploy the newly available IBR600C (4G w/Wi-Fi) and IBR650C (4G No Wi-Fi) models in place of those older devices. Regardless of whether the restaurants are using the legacy devices, or the newer and improved models, these devices enable each of the restaurant locations to establish Internet connectivity via local cellular signals quickly. The devices are easy to deploy and to use and small enough to fit into tight quarters.

"With this solution, we can eliminate extra phone line costs. One cellular router will make a single credit card machine run twice as fast as a standalone, so we might even be able to remove one more machine from each store."

As the restaurant chain continued to install Cradlepoint in hundreds of restaurants, it needed a more efficient way to preconfigure and manage the devices. Cradlepoint NetCloud Branch now gives the company's IT staff a single interface to monitor its routers and vastly streamlines the pre-configuration process for near zero-touch deployment at installation.

"Before NetCloud Branch, we'd have to log into each router using a laptop and then upload the latest firmware and programming changes. That took about 9 to 12 minutes per machine. With this new platform, we can hook up 100 devices simultaneously and then just walk away. Fifteen minutes later, they're all programmed and ready to go. That saves us a huge amount of staff time."

The Results

Budget-Friendly, Reliable, and PCI-Compliant Connectivity Across Hundreds of Locations

Cost Savings

The chain says that it saves significant staff time using Cradlepoint NetCloud Branch to configure each device automatically. The devices themselves are cost-efficient. And each restaurant gets all the connectivity it needs with much more affordable cellular plans.

"I can get away with ridiculously low monthly carrier costs and still have rapid, very latency-friendly communications. The CradlePoint solution comes at such a low cost that it doesn't make sense for us not to use it."

Ease of Implementation

Because the chain uses cloud management to preconfigure routers before sending them to individual locations, store managers don't need special training to install and enable routers.

"The managers plug the devices in, make a credit card machine programming change with their bank, and are up and running. As soon as they plug it in and light it up, I can check right away on the networking platform to ensure the device is fully functional."

Primary Connection

Many of this chain's restaurants now rely on Cradlepoint for their primary Internet connectivity and use the existing dial-up access for backup. Rarely needed for such support, these phone lines can now be used for call-in orders and other communications.

Future Wi-Fi Applications

The Cradlepoint IBR600C with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi can allow their organization to consider future wireless applications. Whether for mobile order taking with wireless tablets, or the management of wireless in and outdoor digital signage, or for wireless IP based surveillance cameras, they can expand the applications of their network at every location.

PCI Compliance

All companies that accept credit cards must meet Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standards. The CradlePoint solution comprises a particular cellular router on a singular point: no other devices are connected. This makes it much easier for the chain's internal audit team to confirm that each location meets PCI standards.

"The wireless routers make life easier for everybody. You don't have to jump through hoops. You show the audit team how the routers are configured, and the data transfer process is crystal clear."

Solid Foundation for Growth

The Cradlepoint IBR650C with 4G LTE opens the door to many new services that this chain can now offer its customers as it rolls out these new devices to hundreds more restaurants. With flexible Internet connectivity at higher access speeds and lower monthly costs, the chain has a solution it can rely on for years to come.

"I don't foresee us trying any other mobile broadband networking solution—just because CradlePoint works," says the chain's IT Director. "It's incredibly compact and gives me more control over the devices. But as far as our managers out in the field are concerned, it's straightforward and easy to use."

About USAT

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 onsite RF surveying services with optional engineering maintenance contracts. Our team not only helps you select, provision, and activate devices, we also ensure 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.