14 years supporting and maintaining IKEA’s Cisco network infrastructure keeps this retail giant reliably connected across the UK.
IKEA is the world’s biggest furniture retailer, with 392 stores in 48 countries. Founded in Sweden in 1943, today the chain sells upwards of €36billion worth of goods each year.
Ideal’s relationship with IKEA began in 2010, with a contract to supply routing and switching equipment for all UK stores. Within a year IKEA established Ideal as its strategic partner in the UK, a relationship which extended from network and wireless hardware projects, through firewall support and into telephony.
When IKEA wanted a unified communications solution for their entire UK estate, they turned to Ideal to design and implement a brand-new Cisco solution. IKEA also awarded Ideal to deliver proactive support and maintenance via a managed services wrap.
As well as support, Ideal have proactively managed evolution over the years. That has included bringing new retail centres into readiness as stores have been added and managing a significant system-wide maintenance upgrade to keep IKEA at the forefront of reliable communications.
IKEA trusted Ideal to design and implement a previously untried Cisco unified communications solution for their entire UK estate. By implementing an effective and easily used internal directory, the project further resolved IKEA’s business challenges around poor internal communication.
IKEA then became a recognised Strategic Partner, providing technical steering, architecture expertise and 24/7/365 UK-based service support to ensure smooth operation, and help IKEA continue to meet and
exceed its business objectives.
Ideal also play a key role in bringing new sites on board. That involves a two-day wireless audit before specifying and installing the necessary equipment.
The unified communications solution has been a resounding success, providing reliable and consistent communications for IKEA throughout the UK.
Effective planning and preparation of the upgrade project ensured that the design, testing and rollout was smooth and successful.
Meanwhile Ideal’s in-house, 24/7/365 UK-based support desk provides attention to detail in managed services, ensuring proactive monitoring and an expert response.
Christopher Jackson at IKEA said: “Ideal are by far the best vendor I’ve ever dealt with….and have always successfully and quickly resolved any issues that have arisen.”
We designed implemented and support the core network for the City’s highest office block.
EMEA UK & Ireland Winner.
“Having 24/7/365 Managed Services based in our offices makes for a cohesive response when it matters most for the customer.”