CASE STUDY
Pepkor Europe, the owner of Europe’s largest value general merchandise retailer, wanted to launch the Dealz brand into Poland in 2018. The retailer sought a store model that could deliver rapid expansion while providing agility, robust security, and scalability to support ongoing growth.
VCG, which manages Poundland’s store network in the UK, was engaged to design a digital store model capable of supporting operationally critical systems while being managed remotely, enabling the retailer to scale efficiently without compromising service quality or security.
VCG, which manages Poundland’s store network in the UK, was engaged to design a digital store model capable of supporting operationally critical systems while being managed remotely, enabling the retailer to scale efficiently without compromising service quality or security.
Challenge
Pepkor Europe needed to introduce Dealz stores in Poland quickly, ensuring the network infrastructure could support rapid store rollout while remaining consistent and manageable from the UK. Speed was critical to capitalise on the growth opportunity in a competitive retail market.
Each store required reliable connectivity for mission-critical systems, including EPoS, payment processing, and in-store Wi-Fi. Downtime or connectivity issues could directly impact revenue and customer experience, so the solution had to guarantee operational continuity.
The network needed to be remotely managed from the UK while allowing for future expansion across Poland and potentially other European markets. This required a solution that was both flexible and scalable, capable of supporting multiple stores without additional on-site IT intervention.
Solution
VCG designed a templated store model based on SD-WAN connectivity using local fibre. The network was protected by two Fortinet firewalls and fully managed from the UK to ensure security and operational oversight.
All essential retail systems were hosted in the cloud to reduce reliance on on-site infrastructure and provide flexibility for store operations. Additional resilience was provided for every store with a backup 4G router, ensuring continuity even if the primary connection failed.
The first three pilot stores in Swarzedz, Kalisz Kalinka, and Pabianice successfully tested the new model. The pilot validated the templated approach and proved that the solution could support rapid, reliable expansion while maintaining security and operational efficiency.
Following the pilot, 60 additional Dealz stores are now either live or in development. The templated model allows the network to be deployed anywhere in Europe with an internet connection, supporting the retailer’s ongoing expansion in a cost-effective, repeatable way.
“Everything is secure by design now. Security is everybody’s responsibility”
The templated network enabled Dealz to launch stores quickly in Poland, maximising growth opportunities without compromising operational standards.
Fortinet firewalls, cloud-hosted systems, and backup 4G connectivity ensured that critical EPoS, payment, and Wi-Fi systems remained secure and operational at all times.
The templated network enabled Dealz to launch stores quickly in Poland, maximising growth opportunities without compromising operational standards.
Fortinet firewalls, cloud-hosted systems, and backup 4G connectivity ensured that critical EPoS, payment, and Wi-Fi systems remained secure and operational at all times.
Stores can now be monitored and managed entirely from the UK, reducing the need for on-site IT support and streamlining operational oversight across multiple locations.
The proven store model provides a repeatable approach that can be deployed anywhere in Europe with internet connectivity, allowing for rapid, secure, and cost-effective expansion.
Stores can now be monitored and managed entirely from the UK, reducing the need for on-site IT support and streamlining operational oversight across multiple locations.
The proven store model provides a repeatable approach that can be deployed anywhere in Europe with internet connectivity, allowing for rapid, secure, and cost-effective expansion.
VCG’s templated SD-WAN store model gave Pepkor Europe a secure, resilient, and scalable network to support the Dealz expansion in Poland. The solution enabled rapid rollout, reliable operations, and simplified remote management, positioning the retailer for continued growth across Europe.
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