Unified Western Grocers Deploys New VPN Service to Speed Up Communications
COMMERCE, Calif. -- Unified Western Grocers, Inc. (UWG), a retailer-owned wholesale grocery cooperative in the western United States, is deploying the Netifice Retail Connect VPN service to support data communications among its member stores.
UWG will work with Netifice Communications, Inc., a provider of Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions and other managed IP services to roll out the service to increase bandwidth and decrease connectivity costs for 140 stores, and plans to add an additional 200 members following the initial implementation.
"In deciding to implement a broadband infrastructure to support data communications with our stores, we were concerned with being able to increase the value to our members and select the right provider," said Dan Swofford, retail technology products manager for UWG. "We were also very concerned with the resources required to roll out and manage the network, but found that Netifice's fully managed Retail Connect VPN service could work with just about every access provider to deliver a consistent platform for supporting our critical applications. Netifice allows us to implement a fully managed hybrid network of DSL, Cable, Satellite, and Frame Relay to meet our diverse geographic base."
Previously UWG's IT department managed, monitored, and supported the entire infrastructure for all retailers. As the user base grew, the wholesaler needed a scalable solution that reduced management requirements. The agreement with Netifice includes a fully managed service with 24/7 monitoring, and provides automatic replacement of key equipment, such as routers.
Netifice Retail Connect will enable the stores to speed up their electronic authorization and payment services with credit card processors. The company provides a path to the payment processors with redundant connections to ensure the greatest uptime possible. Additionally, Netifice provides automated dial backup in case the broadband connection becomes unavailable, as well Internet antivirus and antispam capabilities.
UWG will work with Netifice Communications, Inc., a provider of Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions and other managed IP services to roll out the service to increase bandwidth and decrease connectivity costs for 140 stores, and plans to add an additional 200 members following the initial implementation.
"In deciding to implement a broadband infrastructure to support data communications with our stores, we were concerned with being able to increase the value to our members and select the right provider," said Dan Swofford, retail technology products manager for UWG. "We were also very concerned with the resources required to roll out and manage the network, but found that Netifice's fully managed Retail Connect VPN service could work with just about every access provider to deliver a consistent platform for supporting our critical applications. Netifice allows us to implement a fully managed hybrid network of DSL, Cable, Satellite, and Frame Relay to meet our diverse geographic base."
Previously UWG's IT department managed, monitored, and supported the entire infrastructure for all retailers. As the user base grew, the wholesaler needed a scalable solution that reduced management requirements. The agreement with Netifice includes a fully managed service with 24/7 monitoring, and provides automatic replacement of key equipment, such as routers.
Netifice Retail Connect will enable the stores to speed up their electronic authorization and payment services with credit card processors. The company provides a path to the payment processors with redundant connections to ensure the greatest uptime possible. Additionally, Netifice provides automated dial backup in case the broadband connection becomes unavailable, as well Internet antivirus and antispam capabilities.