Improve customer experience through faster payment processing.
Support PCI compliance with a network solution that satisfies mandated requirements for credit card transactions.
Lower total cost per transaction up to 70 percent while increasing throughput up to 500 percent (vs. 56 kbps dial-up).
Gain real-time sales information and inventory from distributed stores.
Implement advanced capabilities such as real-time video surveillance and digital signage.
Simplifying Secure, High-speed WAN Connectivity for Retailers
iPass understands retail. We know retailers have unique customer needs involving complex POS systems, mission-critical applications and secure data requirements. And we know that improving data communications to retail outlets isn't a simple matter of just supplying DSL or cable services.
That's why we developed the iPass Retail Office service. With this solution, retailers receive a fast, secure, reliable network infrastructure in the form of a managed IP VPN service running over Internet broadband. It helps improve efficiency and competitiveness while enhancing the customer experience.
Key features set the iPass Retail Office solution apart:
Professional Design, Integration and Configuration
Planning. Seasoned iPass project managers and certified network engineers work with you to design an IP VPN solution that satisfies your application, security and technology requirements while integrating with existing infrastructure. A detailed project plan clearly articulates all deliverables and milestones, including timelines, to ensure successful implementation. In addition, an in-depth solution plan covers network design, transport architecture, reliability and availability requirements, and all operational and support processes.
Managed deployment. An iPass specialist coordinates each site's deployment-from order placement through installation and training.
New store expertise. iPass has the expertise to manage service deployments in newly built storefronts and ensure a painless implementation. Time tested processes and methodologies are utilized to meet difficult deployment schedules for new store openings. iPass can support 3G wireless broadband until DSL or cable access is available, and then provide a seamless switchover-while maintaining critical availability and performance service levels. Ask about our new store activation process.
Data center integration. iPass can provide both the hardware as well as the access circuit(s) at the customer data center. This connection to a Tier-1 ISP at the customer data center is available using a T1, multiple T1s or a DS3 circuit.
Retailer-specific Features
PCI compliance. iPass helps you meet stringent retail security objectives through PCI compliance. In August 2008, iPass was certified PCI-compliant for the third consecutive year. Rest assured, your wide area network service is in complete conformance with more than 200 individual security requirements of the PCI Data Security Standard. The Retail Office service provides end-to-end security using IPSec with 3DES or AES encryption. Also, iPass performs quarterly audit scans as required for your security.
Affordable Franchise Solution. Give retail franchisees affordable, PCI-compliant access to corporate applications - such as point-of-sale systems, CRM systems, accounting programs and store surveillance systems - via Secure Franchise service, a complementary service to iPass Retail Office. This PCI-compliant solution features two-factor authentication using an SSL VPN and an X.509 certificate-so there's no additional hardware to purchase or install.
Comprehensive coverage in North America. Retail Office features one of the largest broadband footprints, with coverage via iPass' aggregated broadband network of more than 160 leading cable, DSL, T1, and 3G providers across the United States and Canada.
Service Level Agreements. As a Retail Office customer, you receive comprehensive SLAs featuring eight performance metrics that are measured and reported on monthly.
Consolidated billing. A single bill helps you more easily manage your monthly budgets.
Proactive Service Management
Industry-leading service monitoring. Each Retail Office network is monitored end-to-end through the VPN tunnel 24 hours a day, every day. If a problem is detected, iPass automatically opens a trouble ticket and takes appropriate actions to resolve the issue without your staff ever needing to pick up the phone. iPass also has the expertise to manage unique customer topologies and migration methodologies.
Vendor management. iPass actively manages each of our suppliers on a monthly and quarterly basis. Creating vendor scorecards to track performance and drive behavior is part of our ability to manage over 160 providers throughout North America.
Change management. The iPass Services Information System (iSIS) enables the team to leverage state-of-the-art tools that can quickly and easily push out changes and software upgrades to MSUs.
Managed Network Services Portal
Maintain complete control. The Managed Network Services Portal allows you to track all aspects of your network at any time.
Ordering. Submit orders electronically via the Managed Network Services Portal to speed up ordering, then follow the progress of any order in real time. Site information is also available on installed sites such as dynamic IP address information.
Network monitoring. Gain comprehensive real-time and historical IP VPN availability and performance reporting. Availability is tested every three minutes and round-trip latency, packet loss and dial backup are tested every five minutes. You can even view LAN-to-LAN availability and performance between your data center(s) and remote locations.
Trouble tickets. Most Retail Office trouble tickets or cases are proactively opened by iPass. You can follow the progress being made to resolve any outstanding issues. Trouble tickets or cases can be opened for service problems and customers can view the status of opened and closed cases.
Ad hoc reports. Remain in control of your retail connections, with the ability to run various ad hoc reports to analyze network performance.
Invoices. Electronic copies of the invoices are available on the Managed Network Services Portal each month.
Secure, Convenient Wireless Connections
iPass offers managed site-to-site IPSec VPN services via 3G wireless broadband as add-on options to Retail Office. These services can accelerate time-to-market in greenfield sites where cable and DSL service many not yet exist, ensure business continuity and extend broadband access to non-traditional venues.
Wireless JumpStart service. iPass can have new retail locations up and running on day one (before other broadband options are available).
Wireless Backup service. This affordable real-time failover service uses wireless broadband to eliminate downtime if a traditional broadband service should fail. Wireless Backup provides an excellent failover solution to DSL customers who may experience dial-back issues over shared phone lines.
Wireless Primary service. Stores that can't be served by wires can still take advantage of 3G wireless broadband for mobile kiosks, outdoor events or in the case of natural disasters.
