Consultancy Case Study: Multi-site Network Refresh in Automotive
Overview
A UK automotive retailer with over 140 sites, nationwide sought a technology refresh and standardisation project to upgrade their network and wireless infrastructure.
The environment was plagued with multi-vendor misalignment, inconsistent connectivity, specific franchise requirements and limited standardisation.
The brief was to remedy these issues and any others that were identified during the audit process.
Challenges
The retailer faced several challenges, some were obvious and part of the intended project, some discovered during the pilot and alpha rollout. No definitive assets to location register required site auditing.
New equipment needed to be rationalised to make cabinets electrically efficient, cabinet locations required optimisation and consolidation, and new structural cabling required design and installation.
Existing issues with poor LAN connectivity speed, inconsistent Wi-Fi coverage and faulty structural cabling also needed to be incorporated into the solution. And from the limited ‘Alpha’ deployment a particular problem was proven to be prevalent on the new wireless network.
The client did not want to lose time by conducting wireless surveys as part of the deployment preparation and insisted on moving to deployment but the simple Wi-Fi tech refresh involving replacement of obsolete access points in state without survey and location optimisation was not solving issues or returning value on the cost of implementation.
Break - Anecdote - Challenge/Complexities Statement.
Solution
Our team conducted a detailed analysis of the wireless infrastructure at all locations to identify issues and determine requirements. Ekahau surveys were carried out based on initial deployment assessment to ensure only sites in need granular attention were included within this scope extension. While the LAN and cabling infrastructure project ran to schedule, diagnosed sites had their scope expanded to have additional teams allocated to deliver additional bespoke services. Key elements included:
Introduction of EKAHAU wireless analysis: Sites with specific problems were professionally surveyed and designed individually to ensure the network met the client and associated franchise requirements.
Critical consultancy with a focus on necessity: Deployment of advanced access points and structural cabling to improve speed, coverage, and reliability across showrooms, service centers and administrative buildings.
Vendor consolidation: Deployment of a two-vendor solution, SD-WAN and gateway with one, Network and Wireless with another.
Centralised Management Platform: Integration of a centralised platform for real-time monitoring, streamlined configuration, and proactive troubleshooting.
Enhanced Security Features: Implementation of strong encryption protocols and secure network access controls to safeguard data and protect against threats.
Scalable and Flexible Architecture: Design of a WAN that could scale easily as the business grows and adapts to evolving technology needs.
To ensure minimal operational impact, we executed a phased deployment strategy, conducting installations during on and off-peak hours depending on the tasks at hand. Each site underwent rigorous NRFU testing to validate performance and functionality before moving on to the next location.
Results
The wireless network upgrade was completed on schedule, delivering transformative outcomes for the automotive retailer:
Robust connectivity: Enhanced network speed, reliability, and coverage across all locations, enabling smooth communication and data exchange.
Seamless Network and Wi-Fi roaming: The ability to roam and move across a building with no loss of connectivity – or between locations without the need to reauthenticate.
Operational Efficiency: Improved workflows and system integration, boosting support staff productivity and streamlining processes.
Customer Experience: Faster and more reliable connectivity improved staff and customer satisfaction in both showrooms and service centers.
Scalable Infrastructure: The design positioned the business to accommodate national expansion and adopt emerging technologies.
Conclusion
Through the successful deployment of a modern wireless solution across multiple sites, the automotive retailer significantly improved connectivity and operational efficiency.
The diagnosis for fault to fix time was reduced by a significant factor as ‘mandatory’ site visits were reduced, and remote support became more effective.
The enhanced wireless infrastructure not only provided a seamless user experience for employees and customers but also satisfied the required return on investment specified by the project success criteria.
Our collaborative approach ensured the retailer achieved their goals while creating a robust and adaptable IT environment for the foreseeable future.