Vanco rolled out an IP VPN network in seven weeks and implemented uncontended ISDN backup. To maintain high levels of service and flexibility, Vanco installed 2MB tiered circuits into all sites. These have the provision to meet variations in bandwidth within 48 hours, as opposed to the industry norm of several weeks.

“As an independent company, Vanco offered a proven, strategic solution. They remove the complexity of solving network problems and deliver high bandwidth to support our new customer initiatives, as well as focusing heavily on service, in line with our business objectives. The service is scalable, flexible and tailored, catering for our needs today, yet provisioning for tomorrow, next week and next year.”
Richard Whitehead, Head of Infrastructure, Virgin Retail

Proactively managing change
January 2003 saw the telecoms industry in crisis following a series of accounting scandals – not that Virgin would have noticed, as Vanco migrated its network solution onto the assets of a more stable carrier. As well as decreasing the risk to Virgin, Vanco was able to deliver a cost saving, including the cost of the network change.

"If we had been tied into MCI it would have been very different, so right there Vanco's virtual network model paid off.”
Tony Johnson, CIO, Virgin Retail

Technological refresh
By 2004, Virgin’s Retail’s business strategy required a focus on fewer, better stores to truly differentiate the Virgin brand in an increasingly crowded marketplace, and a network solution to match. Both partners saw this change as an opportunity rather than a problem, implementing a future proofed MPLS and DSL network across the Virgin portfolio. This was complemented by raised SLAs, improved network availability and a reduction in cost base that continues to save Virgin 30% per annum. Vanco, a true partner in the relationship, shared the overall cost savings and was rewarded with a new five-year deal.

"The fact that we have signed a five-year deal with Vanco - we don't sign a five year deal with anyone these days - says it all about our relationship.”
Tony Johnson, CIO, Virgin Retail

Sustaining competitive advantage
As Virgin continues to set the pace in the entertainment and leisure industries, so it demands a reliable, flexible and technologically advanced data network to ensure its business critical applications not undermine its quest for the ultimate customer experience. Currently looking at a web-based in-store customer ordering system with home delivery, real-time sales data and inventory information, and working with Vanco to assess the business case for Voice over IP, Virgin is not a company to stand still, and Vanco is the only network operator to give them the freedom to be like that.

"Real time sales data and inventory is the holy grail for our business. Now we have got a network in place to enable this."
Tony Johnson, CIO, Virgin Retail