Tie Rack

Tie Rack challenges

Faced with the impending launch of Chip and PIN and identified a need for real-time stock control which led to a review of the existing Wide Area Network (WAN).
The PSTN dial-up solution had proved highly reliable and had served its purpose over time, but the deployment of a Retail Java EPoS system would have a major impact on dial-up charges.
Required an ‘always on’ WAN that would address the need for a robust and scalable solution at a competitive price point.
Need to resolve a lack of projections from its software provider for the amount of bandwidth required and was finding it equally difficult to predict what ADSL contention ratio would be acceptable.

2e2 proposed a combination of Cisco routers and Tiscali MPLS ADSL connectivity and was engaged by Tie Rack to provide network design consultancy, network equipment procurement and implementation, Tiscali MPLS ADSL circuits and support during the pilot. This enabled testing of performance and ability to define bandwidth.
The highly scalable solution links Tie Rack’s head office in Brentford with the Tiscali MPLS network and critical business servers at Tiscali’s co-location facility in Milton Keynes and then onward via ADSL connectivity with each Tie Rack store. The Milton Keynes facility also provides secure central internet access for corporate users and for the stores both in the UK and overseas.
2e2 helped Tie Rack gain a better understanding of ADSL technologies and of the ability to manage the service provider.

The solution that was rolled out by 2e2 is delivering key benefits to Tie Rack, including:

a highly secure and scalable solution over which Tie Rack can secure transactions, run CCTV and stream video to plasma screens in the stores
real-time stock control capabilities enabling swift response to consumer buying patterns
the flexibility to introduce a variety of different ADSL bandwidths and contention ratios
service level guarantees managed by 2e2