Wide area network to connect 600 UK retail sites with fast broadband supports online and in-store customer experience

Wide area network to connect 600 UK retail sites with fast broadband supports online and in-store customer experience

HMV Group has turned to Cable&Wireless Worldwide to replace its legacy network in its chain of HMV and Waterstone’s stores in a three-year multimillion pound contract.

The roll out of the new wide area network (WAN) to both HMV and Waterstone’s has already commenced and, once completed, will connect 600 retail outlets across the UK and Ireland together with key distribution sites, including a warehouse operation in Guernsey.

HMV Group is dedicated to creating the best possible end-to-end customer experience for every in-store and online shopper. Cable&Wireless Worldwide is providing next-generation broadband connectivity across HMV Group’s e-commerce platform to ensure online sales are processed rapidly and accurately to deliver the optimum customer experience, irrespective of how busy the sites may be. Online shopping is a crucial element of consumer appeal, with sales through the hmv.com and Waterstones.com websites generating growing revenue for the two businesses, particularly during peak trading times such as Christmas.

Connectivity core to experience

HMV is also heavily engaged in developing its next-generation in-store environment, providing tech and gaming zones, which all need high bandwidth. Cable&Wireless Worldwide said its business grade ADSL2+ service provides assured rates guaranteeing 1Mbps speeds.

Gary Arthurs, HMV Group chief information officer, said: “In today’s competitive marketplace we needed a trusted partner to deliver a network that would help improve our customer experience. With Cable&Wireless Worldwide, our next-generation shopping experience is now second to none.”

Philip Grannum, Cable&Wireless Worldwide enterprise managing director, added: “The network and business grade broadband connectivity we’re providing HMV Group is at the very heart of its new and unique shopping experience. It means HMV and Waterstone’s customers will spend less time queuing to pay as transactions are processed at superfast internet speeds. Being able to provide an exceptional customer experience is critical for retail business operations and we’re very pleased to be supporting HMV Group in this way.”