Retailers today face the challenge of meeting rising customer expectations while managing complex operations and ensuring data security. They’re tasked with maintaining consistent, personalized experiences across multiple avenues from brick-and-mortar stores, social media platforms, and online channels.
To keep up with demand and competition, retailers invest in technologies like IoT, AI, and automation to deliver meaningful omnichannel experiences to their end customers. All of these require a solid networking foundation, which is where edge networking comes in.
SD-WAN and SASE solutions are emerging as game-changing edge solutions for retailers by bringing data processing closer to the point of interaction, improving speed, security, and operational efficiency.
Zayo offers a customer-first approach to edge networking with Zayo Managed Edge including Managed SD-WAN and SASE solutions. Access to an exclusive AI-driven observability portal, vendor-agnostic solutions, and co-management capabilities from Zayo gives retailers custom network solutions that other providers can’t.
Below are a few examples of how Zayo retail customers found success with our Managed Edge solutions.
Large, Omnichannel Furniture Retailer Enhances Operational Efficiencies with Zayo Managed Edge
A prominent omnichannel furniture retailer needed reliable connectivity to enable their employees to walk the retail floor with tablets and better serve customers.
Zayo’s Managed Edge solutions addressed this need by reducing latency through edge networking, allowing data processing to occur closer to where it’s generated. This enables retail staff to promptly address customer inquiries and efficiently manage critical in-store applications like self-checkout, real-time pricing updates, and augmented reality displays.
The retailer selected Zayo’s solution for several key reasons:
- Extensive SD-WAN ecosystem: Zayo’s broad compatibility with SD-WAN vendors, including two preferred by the retailer, offered flexibility.
- Proactive monitoring and alerting: Zayo’s ability to provide real-time network insights, co-management options, and observability through an intuitive portal was a significant advantage.
- Improved redundancy and bandwidth: The solution ensured reliable network performance, particularly for tablet usage, enhancing the customer experience.
By leveraging Zayo Managed SD-WAN, the retailer gained increased network visibility, control, redundancy, uptime, and bandwidth, helping them improve customer service and operational efficiency across their stores.
Large Self-Storage Company with Over 3,000 Locations Maximizes Network Speed and IoT Capabilities with Managed Edge
A leading self-storage company and long-time Zayo customer leverages Zayo SD-WAN to connect around 3,000 storage facilities effectively.
Like many retailers, this customer previously relied on MPLS circuits. While MPLS was the standard for many years, its limitations — such as high costs, slow speeds, and vulnerability to outages — became evident as the company’s needs evolved. The shift to cloud-based applications and growing bandwidth demands required a more modern, scalable network architecture.
SD-WAN provided a more cost-effective, flexible, and scalable solution to meet these modern demands. The company was migrating all applications to the Cloud, so adopting a network designed to support rapid growth and innovation was essential. With Zayo’s SD-WAN, the company could streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance the performance of critical cloud applications.
The customer also sought a long-term partnership with a network provider that could remedy another major pain point: network visibility. Previously, they lacked insight into network performance — not realizing when a facility operated on costly cellular backup until receiving massive overage bills. Zayo’s AI-driven network observability portal, zInsights, enabled them to predict and resolve issues before costly impacts on their network.
Many retailers use IoT devices like smart shelves, cameras for shopper analytics, and environmental sensors. In this case, the self-storage company leverages Zayo’s SD-WAN to power smart locks on storage units that allow entry via smartphone, creating a seamless and secure customer experience.
Running Shoe Company Needed a Stable Network on a Time and Cost Crunch
A running shoe retailer, facing an impending divesture from its parent company, urgently needed a high-performing, reliable network to support 70 store locations. They required essential support for critical applications such as VoIP, point-of-sale (POS) credit card processing, and online customer service. However, time and budget constraints put them in a bind.
The customer considered using a combination of dedicated coaxial cable and 4G fiber to achieve the stability and reliability they required, but with 70 stores to connect, that approach would’ve taken too long to implement. Broadband connections could be rolled out faster, but the customer knew that broadband alone wouldn’t deliver the necessary performance for their business-critical applications.
Zayo stepped in with a custom solution that addressed both their time constraints and cost concerns. While the customer was right to worry about broadband’s limitations, Zayo’s expertise in SD-WAN technology provided the answer. By overlaying SD-WAN onto the broadband connections, Zayo delivered the reliability and performance they needed without the time-consuming build of dedicated fiber.
Zayo worked closely with the retailer to implement SD-WAN across all 70 locations in just a few days. This solution allowed the retailer to run their essential applications, including a bandwidth-intensive credit card processing system, over simple broadband connections without sacrificing performance. Zayo’s SD-WAN solution intelligently managed network traffic, ensuring even high-demand applications operated seamlessly.
With Zayo’s SD-WAN solution, the retailer opened all 70 stores on time with a more manageable, reliable, and scalable network—delivering the desired outcome within the tight deadline.
Why Zayo Managed Edge for Retailers?
Zayo’s Managed Edge solutions provide retailers with a reliable, scalable, and secure network infrastructure to handle the growing demands of modern retail operations. Whether it’s reducing latency to improve the customer experience, enhancing operational efficiency, supporting real-time data analytics, or enabling IoT devices, Zayo offers the flexibility and expertise needed to succeed in today’s retail environment.
For retailers looking to future-proof their operations and capitalize on the latest digital trends, Zayo’s Managed Edge solutions deliver the performance, scalability, and security needed to thrive.
With Zayo Managed Edge, retailers gain:
- Full Network Observability and Control: In today’s retail environment, complete network oversight is crucial to managing multiple platforms, technologies, and locations. Zayo’s zInsights portal empowers retailers by providing a comprehensive view of network performance to minimize operational tasks and increase incident response.
- Flexible Network Management and Monitoring: A reliable network is the backbone of any successful retail operation. With Zayo, you can choose customized management options to ensure you maintain the level of control that works best for your business. Plus, our network operations center (NOC) offers 24/7 support for your network.
- Network Solutions from Edge-to-Core-to-Cloud: Whether it’s ensuring reliable in-store connectivity or optimizing cloud applications, Zayo has the expertise and infrastructure to support your retail operations at every layer. We work with best-in-class edge vendors and leverage our wholly-owned fiber network, the largest in North America, to bring our customers market-leading network solutions.
- Unified Security in Stores and Online: SASE delivers seamless performance, integration, security, and management across your network, ensuring a smooth and secure experience for all customers, apps, devices, and store locations.