Case Study – One of the world’s largest retailers

The Solution

ISG designed, deployed and continues to manage a range of technologies covering physical infrastructure and WiFi, proprietary communications systems, retail-specific systems including EPoS, self-scan and self-check-out and other mission-critical ICT systems.
All projects are undertaken by ISG’s Project Office and supported through its dedicated Service Desk.

Business Benefits

Why Retail, Specialty and QSR retailers rely on ISG for effective and economical ICT services:
• ISG engineers have been specifically trained over time to provide multiple, accredited skills so a variety of different activities can be achieved at once: saving time and reducing cost by between 35% – 50%
• All retail store, warehouse and office technology can be deployed and supported: WiFi, proprietary comms, ICT infrastructure, Unified Comms, telephony, in-store HHT devices, self-scan, self-checkout, RFID, software and hardware upgrades, security, access and time management systems
• All our support arrangements are provided by our 24×7 Service Desk, offering any combination of 1st, 2nd or 3rd line support
• Our UK-wide engineers provide on-site coverage with up to 4-hour response time
• ISG provides storage, pre-staging and logistical support for mass deployment of new technology
• Deployments – from single site to very large scale – are managed by our permanent Project Office facility: if projects don’t happen on schedule or on cost it’s because we’ve done better, hitting or exceeding SLA targets
To find out more about our Retail IT design, deployment & management solutions please here.

ISG Retail Services

1. Wi-Fi – Mass Deployment & Support

For one of our clients ISG has installed over 25,000 Access Points in over 3,500 locations in the last 2- years during a complete network refresh. ISG undertook all aspects of implementation work from site surveys, equipment staging and installation, system tests and sign-off. ISG’s multi-skilled engineers were able to undertake infrastructure provision and other practical activities as required within a single visit. With thousands of stores to be implemented ISG’s Project Office created the asset register, the activity plan and monitored progress hour by hour. ISG continues to provide ongoing maintenance and enhancement support for all stores – with over 500 new surveys undertaken each year to meet the store refresh program. ISG uses its proprietary system ISG Connect© to undertake surveys and reporting.

2. Data & Voice, Installation and Maintenance

ISG has installed over 300,000 data outlets and undertaken tens of thousands of individual physical infrastructure assignments for structured cabling, CAT 5e, fibre and proprietary connectivity. Infrastructure and refresh activities run at up to 15 stores per week.
All physical infrastructure projects are managed by the ISG Project Office.

3. Retail Innovation Technology

ISG is working with clients on a wide variety of Retail Store technologies, as follows:
• SAYS. Implementation of dedicated WiFi for ‘Scan as you Shop’, including infrastructure to all stores
• Self-checkout. Implementation of infrastructure (data & electrical) to Self-Checkout units at all stores
• RFID Stock Management. Implementation of infrastructure to back-office and shop-floor RFID readers
• RFID Security. Implementation of LAN connectivity for RFID security readers
• IP Time-Clocks. Installation of IP clocks and infrastructure for time management, plus ongoing system maintenance
• Customer WiFi. Implementation of Access Point configuration to support secure loyalty-card guest access in-store
• Electronic Pricing. Dedicated WiFi for petrol gantry pricing at petrol forecourts
• Kiosks. Installation of over 1,200 customer kiosks including cabling and LAN connectivity
• Electronic Displays. TV wallboard installations with power and blu-ray connectivity

4. Service Desk & Maintenance

Service desk can be provided for stores, technologies supported include all network infrastructure, fibre, WAN, LAN & WLAN, Workgroup bridges, wireless links to petrol gantries, kiosks, wireless inter-store links and special retail innovation technologies. Response and fix times vary according to requirement but include 24/7 4-hour attendance categories for mission-critical components. Over 3,000 different sites have been supported with on average 500 site visits being handled each month.

5. Health Lottery Nationwide Deployment

Our client needed a rapid largescale deployment of its health lottery to over 2,200 stores. The work was to be conducted out of hours. ISG planned and managed the project with all sites installed within 6 weeks – sometimes implementing over 100 stores in a single night. ISG also installed infrastructure for selected National Lottery terminals.

6. EPoS Installation, including tailor-made cabling system, across UK

The installation of new EPoS equipment with associated cabling to over 600 stores, comprising PC, screen, scanner, keyboard, payment components and fittings. As part of the deployment project, ISG proposed and supplied a custom-made cabling harness to improve the working environment and ease of support.

7. ICT integration for 600 petrol stations

As forecourt convenience stores became an increasingly important part of our client’s estate, ISG undertook the integration of all the stores’ physical infrastructure, including an initial rollout of 260 stores with fibre optic links that was concluded within three months.

8. Online/Direct – eCommerce infrastructure

ISG undertook the implementation of specialised LAN technology to provide the enhanced IT infrastructure needed to support our clients direct/online home shopping initiative.

9. Back-office system

Infrastructure and software upgrade Engineers were scheduled to visit all our client’s stores to upgrade the existing back-office system. The upgrade provided a more advanced stock check system and improved remote access connectivity from satellite stores to the head office.