SD-WAN and Cloud Automation Powering 5,000+ Remote Workers

30% Less Downtime, 25% Lower TCO: The SD-WAN Transformation of a Retail Titan

A leading U.S. retailer modernized its network across 950+ sites, achieving 30% less downtime and 25% lower TCO through HCLTech’s SD-WAN, cloud automation, and enhanced security solutions.

5 min read

Overview

Our client, a leading American e-commerce and retail organization, generated over $1 billion in revenue during Q3 2024. With 953+ retail centers and 20+ warehouses across the U.S., alongside a global e-commerce network, the company faced the need for a modernized, agile and efficient network. HCLTech deployed a Dual Link SD-WAN solution across the client’s 953+ sites and transitioned its infrastructure from legacy Cisco-based infrastructure to Meraki’s cloud-based platform, replacing Check Point firewalls with Juniper solutions. The integration of network automation, including Meraki Dashboard and SolarWinds, enhanced network visibility and performance. This comprehensive transformation spanned four datacenters, 4,260+ wireless devices, 30+ load balancers, 110+ firewall devices and supported over 5,000 work-from-home users, significantly improving scalability, security and operational efficiency across their extensive retail and distribution network.

The Challenge

The client operated a legacy environment that included MPLS, which resulted in a high recurring cost of MPLS circuits. The client was also facing bandwidth issues with business-critical and collaboration applications.
The client got 200+ tickets per day.
Wireless coverage gap in Warehouse locations.
Lack of monitoring, assurance and automation within the existing infrastructure that included 250+ sites, 20K WFM VPN infra support and 30+ manufacturing locations.
Multiple issues with Wi-Fi solution and lack of a consolidated tool for DDI (DNS, DHCP and IPAM).

The Objective

Transition from a legacy MPLS-based network to a modern, scalable SD-WAN infrastructure to support business growth.
Improve wireless connectivity across warehouse locations to ensure seamless operations.
Reduce incident volume from 200+ daily tickets through automation and streamlined network management.
Establish unified visibility and control across 950+ retail sites and a large remote workforce through cloud-based monitoring tools.
Consolidate and modernize disparate infrastructure components, including DDI services.
Strengthen security posture and address existing vulnerabilities across the enterprise network.

The Solution

Migrated WAN links from MPLS to Eline 10 Gbps services.
Implemented an automation and partial outages ticket, now closing through the IT operations automation platform.
Implemented Dynamic Bandwidth Management to fix bandwidth related issues.
Implemented Meraki cloud managed services for network device automation. Enabled auto provision of devices with zero touch policy.

The Impact

30% reduction in business downtime achieved.
25% reduction in TCO achieved through automation and IT operations automation platform implementation, single plane observability and SD-WAN transformation.
100% of SLA met except ISP and power outage.
Improved operational efficiency and reduced response times.
Improved the client's security posture, reducing the risk of cyber threats and breaches and mitigated all security vulnerabilities from the client environment.
Cost optimization by reducing manual efforts and enhancing resource utilization.