Cloud-Managed Wireless RAP Rollout for Retail & Logistics

MAJOR ISSUES

Client faced significant operational and connectivity challenges across its PAN India retail store network due to limitations with existing MPLS-based infrastructure:

• High MPLS Costs: Each store incurred significant recurring expenses for MPLS connectivity.
• Limited ISP Feasibility: Many remote locations lacked reliable broadband ISP options.Aruba RAP Deployment for ABRL
• MPLS Downtime Impact: Productivity and access to central applications suffered during MPLS outages.
• Lack of Centralized Monitoring: Difficulty in monitoring store-level device health and link status from a centralized point.Aruba RAP Deployment for ABRL
• Slow Store Rollouts: Complexity in setting up new stores delayed go-live timelines.

IMPACT

The deployment of Aruba’s Remote Access Point (RAP) solution led to a transformative improvement in network efficiency, cost savings, and operational agility:

• Reduced Downtime: Failover between broadband and data card connections ensured uninterrupted operations.
• Significant Cost Savings: MPLS reliance was eliminated, dramatically reducing recurring connectivity expenses.
• Improved Productivity: Application servers became consistently reachable from even the most remote stores.
• Accelerated Store Onboarding: New store rollouts became faster and more efficient due to plug-and-play RAP configurations.
• Centralized Visibility: The IT team could now monitor store connectivity and devices centrally from the Bangalore data center.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dual Aruba 7205 Controllers deployed in High Availability (HA) mode at Bangalore Data Center.
• Aruba AP303H installed across PAN India stores for remote connectivity.
• IPsec VPN Tunneling ensured secure data transmission between Head Office and remote stores.
• Centralized Layer 2 Bridging enabled efficient client communication and simplified network architecture.
• Secure Access Point VPN Service allowed remote users to connect to HO over the internet with encrypted traffic tunnels.

KEY STRATEGIES

• Broadband-First Approach: Shifted to broadband + data card for last-mile connectivity, making the solution feasible in remote locations and reducing operational dependencies on MPLS.

• Centralized Architecture with Local Flexibility: Enabled seamless operations by bridging remote clients directly to VLANs behind the centralized controllers.

• Security-by-Design: Used IPsec tunnels to ensure encrypted, secure data transfer across public
  internet paths.

• Scalable Rollout Model: Aruba RAPs provided a plug-and-play deployment strategy, perfect for rapid expansion across India.

• High Availability at Core: With dual controllers at the DC, ABRL ensured high uptime and resilience for all connected sites.