
When a new CIO stepped into the role at a regional clothing and accessories retailer, she had a clear mandate: prepare the company’s network for growth. With 57 locations and expansion plans, the patchwork of outdated network components wasn’t cutting it. Stores experienced downtime, bandwidth bottlenecks, and slow support resolutions—issues that could threaten the retailer’s ability to scale effectively.
The CIO knew the current setup wasn’t sustainable. IT operations were centralized at headquarters, which made scaling and adapting the network difficult. Each location needed reliable bandwidth between 50 and 100 Mbps, stable enough to handle point-of-sale systems, digital signage, and guest Wi-Fi. The goal? Modernize the network to support expansion and prepare for future AI-powered retail tools.
A Network Held Together by Duct Tape
Before Nitel stepped in, the company’s network was a patchwork of services cobbled together over the years. Different stores had different internet providers, service levels, and inconsistent network policies. When issues popped up—like a slow POS system or disconnected Wi-Fi—resolving them involved long calls to multiple vendors. Worse, nearly half of these issues could’ve been fixed with a simple device reboot.
The network’s core problem was a lack of standardization. With a long list of network providers, network management was inefficient. At the same time security policies were administered without consistency, which posed a risk for the business.
Vision for a Smarter Network
The company didn’t just want to fix the network—they wanted to transform it. Their vision was straightforward:
- Simplified support and troubleshooting.
- Bandwidth capable of supporting both retail operations and new tech, like AI-driven inventory tools.
- Simplified ability to scale and manage the evolving network
They needed a partner who could handle both the infrastructure and day-to-day management. That’s where Nitel came in.
A Smarter, Stronger Retail Network with SD-WAN
Nitel designed a fully managed SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) solution tailored for the retailer’s needs. This wasn’t just a standard upgrade but a complete overhaul of how the network was managed and supported.
Key components included:
- Standardized Connectivity across Locations: Every store received 50 to 100 Mbps primary connectivity with a backup cable connection, ensuring smooth operations during peak traffic and maximizing uptime.
- Centralized Network Policies: SD-WAN allowed the team to create and enforce policies for security, bandwidth allocation, and traffic prioritization across all stores.
Remote Reboot Service: Nitel deployed its Remote Reboot Service, which enabled the customer to quickly resolve nearly 50% of broadband issues at its retail locations without IT resources. - 24/7 Partner Support: Nitel’s dedicated partner support team was on call for higher-tier technical issues, keeping stores operational without adding strain on the customer’s IT team.
More Than Just Fixing Issues—Preparing for Growth
With the SD-WAN in place, the team gained full visibility into network performance across all 57 stores. Instead of reacting to outages and slowdowns, the network could self-heal, often resolving issues automatically before they impacted sales.
But the benefits didn’t stop at stability. This modern infrastructure positioned the retailer for future growth:
Store Expansion: New store setups became faster and more consistent with established network standards.
AI-Ready Infrastructure: With stable, high-speed bandwidth across all locations, the retailer could explore AI-powered tools like predictive inventory management and personalized customer experiences.
The Impact: Faster Growth, Fewer Headaches
Since implementing Nitel’s managed SD-WAN, the retailer has opened eight new locations—without a single network-related delay. Uptime across all stores has improved, and tech support tickets related to connectivity have dropped by nearly 40%.
The team now spends less time firefighting and more time focused on strategic projects like AI adoption and customer data security. And with Nitel’s Remote Reboot Service, those “quick fix” outages that once drained resources? Solved in minutes.
Why This Matters for Network Managers Like You
Managing a distributed retail network isn’t just about keeping the lights on. It’s about supporting business growth, improving customer experience, and staying ready for the next wave of technology.
It might be time for a smarter solution if you’re still dealing with a patchwork network—or struggling with inconsistent support. Nitel’s managed SD-WAN could be the missing piece that simplifies your infrastructure while preparing your business for what’s next.
Ready to see how Nitel can simplify your network? Let’s talk.