Coles Group is implementing 5G fixed wireless technology in its retail stores and new distribution centers as a failover solution in case of primary connectivity failures. The decision comes as part of their commitment to ensuring uninterrupted operations and enhancing customer experience.
Coles has partnered with Cradlepoint’s NetCloud service, which includes 5G endpoints and subscription services. This technology will act as a backup for every new Coles supermarket and Liquorland store. Additionally, the new Witron-powered distribution centers will also be equipped with the 5G backup. The rollout of the 5G endpoints began in late the previous year and is expected to cover all existing 850 supermarkets and a similar number of Liquorland stores by September.
While the primary connectivity for these stores is through fixed-line services provided by carrier partners or NBN Co, the 4G/5G fixed wireless services offer an extra layer of resilience and diversity. This approach aligns with Coles’ technology strategy of being always-on and secure, a crucial factor considering they process over 21 million customer transactions each week.
Chrissy Chu, the General Manager of Technology Services and Commercial, emphasized the importance of reliable connectivity to maintain smooth store operations and a seamless customer experience. In the event of wired WAN service disruptions, the 5G backup ensures that all store activities, including point of sale systems, loyalty programs, stock control, and back-of-house operations, can continue without significant disruptions.
Coles has already experienced the benefits of the backup connectivity option, with the technology helping to mitigate outages in their carrier network proactively. This swift response prevented half a day of network outages across 200 stores where the 5G solution was already deployed.
Moreover, having robust network availability allows Coles to explore other innovative services and employ AI use cases within their stores. As the backbone of providing services in-store, network connectivity is a vital foundation for their strategic vision to bring real-time intelligence to operations and potentially utilize generative AI in the future.
Overall, the adoption of 5G fixed wireless technology by Coles Group underscores their commitment to seamless customer experiences and ensuring that their stores are equipped with highly resilient and reliable systems.