Transforming customer experiences with Zen’s SD-WAN
With Zen’s SD-WAN in place, Booths gained the high-performance, reliable network backbone it needed.
The Booths legacy
For more than 170 years, Booths has been a cornerstone of Northern England, renowned for its commitment to fresh, regional produce and exceptional customer service. Booths is a family-owned business with a strong focus on building connections with local communities.
However, in recent years, the retail landscape began to shift. Customers craved a more dynamic in-store experience, that seamlessly blended tradition with modern convenience. Booths embarked on an ambitious transformation, aiming to elevate an already exceptional level of customer service and solidify its position as a future-proof retailer.
A changing retail landscape
As Daniel Johns, Booths’ Infrastructure Manager, explains, "The way our customers shopped was changing. They expected fast, reliable WiFi, the ability to access information on the spot, and a seamless checkout process. Our legacy network, while reliable, was beginning to become a bottleneck in this modernisation process.”
Booths’ previous IPVPN solution, designed for a centralised network model, didn’t provide the optimal solution to an explosion of internet-based services. From in-store cafes to modern telephony, remote working, and a growing reliance on cloud-based applications, Booths’ network requirements had begun to change.
The search for a solution
Booths knew its legacy network was hindering its ambitious modernisation programme. It lacked the bandwidth and flexibility to support a modern, connected, cloud-first environment. And so the search began for a solution that would not only solve today’s problems, but also position Booths strongly for future growth.
“We rely on Microsoft 365, our servers are in Azure, and we’ve implemented an IP phone system. With so much of our business now internet-based, it didn’t make sense to keep funnelling everything through the legacy network.”
-Daniel Johns, Booths’ Infrastructure Manager
A partnership for progress
Zen’s SD-WAN solution emerged as the ideal answer. Beyond the technical capabilities, Zen’s people-first approach and shared values resonated deeply with Booths.
“We were looking for a partner, not just another vendor, Zen’s understanding of our business goals, commitment to support, and our longstanding partnership were just as important as their technical expertise.”
-Daniel Johns, Booths’ Infrastructure Manager
Zen’s SD-WAN solution transformed Booths’ network architecture. By establishing direct, high-performance internet connections at 26 store locations, it eliminated the performance bottlenecks caused by the previous centralised model. This decentralised approach ensures that each store benefits from the full capacity of its internet connection, allowing for faster speeds and improved responsiveness of cloud-based applications.
Moreover, the new solution features an ‘active-active’ configuration with up to three lines at each site, maximising network resiliency. This setup ensures that if one connection experiences an issue, traffic is seamlessly rerouted through the remaining lines, preventing downtime and ensuring critical services remain operational.
A network built for agility and growth
With Zen’s SD-WAN in place, Booths gained the high-performance, reliable network backbone it needed. The decentralised design removed bottlenecks, empowered seamless collaboration across stores and head office, and equipped the business to rapidly deploy new technologies.
“Our IT team can focus on innovation, which translates to faster rollout of new services and initiatives that directly benefit our customers.”
-Daniel Johns, Booths’ Infrastructure Manager
The SD-WAN’s built-in redundancy has significantly enhanced network resiliency. Stores are less likely to face downtime due to connectivity issues, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted customer experience. It guarantees that WiFi, point-of-sale systems, and other critical in-store technologies remain consistently available.
Perhaps most importantly though, Zen’s solution gives Booths the agility to confidently pursue its transformation goals, with a future-proof network that can adapt and evolve to changing needs.