NEW YORK — Gristede's here is using a wireless access network from Aruba called Virtual Branch Networking in its 35 stores.
The AP-105 remote access points at each store let the retailer run everything from digital signage to inventory control over its in-store mobile network, and ensure PCI compliance for business transactions, according to Aruba.
"We deployed wireless network initially for inventory control," said Shawn Winters, IT infrastructure manager for Gristede's. "Now we have added wirelessly enabled digital signage at all 35 stores, allowing us to increase our personal engagement with customers, and we plan on selling advertising in the windows and on the aisle endcaps.
“My vision for some of the newer stores is to just go wireless because it significantly lowers the cabling costs and cuts down setup time from weeks to hours.”
With the access points, all configuration, management, authentication and reporting are done centrally via mobility controller in the company's data center. Network services such as content security are handled in the cloud.
Failover to 3G/4G communication when the primary T-1 link is down is another advantage that of the system, noted Winters. “This was a huge benefit that we didn’t even consider at the initial phase of our Aruba implementation.”
