Coles Group is taking steps to enhance its store connectivity by deploying 5G fixed wireless as a backup option in the event of primary connectivity failure. The retail giant is partnering with Cradlepoint’s NetCloud service, which includes 5G endpoints and subscription services, to achieve this.
Chrissy Chu, the General Manager of Technology Services and Commercial at Coles, revealed that every new Coles supermarket and Liquorland store will come equipped with the 5G backup as a standard feature. The 5G fixed wireless service is already active in Coles’ new Witron-powered distribution centers, and the company plans to extend it to all existing 850 supermarkets and a similar number of Liquorland stores by September.
While the primary connectivity for the stores relies on fixed-line services provided by carrier partners or NBN Co, the addition of 4G/5G fixed wireless services adds an extra layer of resiliency and ensures an “always-on and secure” approach to operations. Coles processes more than 21 million customer transactions each week, making seamless connectivity crucial to maintaining a smooth customer experience.
In the event of losing wired WAN services to a store, Cradlepoint’s 5G solution steps in to provide reliable connectivity for running all store operations, including point of sale systems, loyalty programs, stock control, and back-of-house activities.
Chu emphasized the importance of maintaining network availability for a seamless customer experience. She shared an example where the backup connectivity option had already proven beneficial, allowing the proactive mitigation of network outages across 200 live stores.
Always-on connectivity is an integral part of Coles’ strategic vision for its store network, enabling real-time intelligence and paving the way for innovative AI use cases in-store. The network connectivity forms the foundation for other services provided in-store, ensuring they remain highly resilient and capable of meeting customer expectations.