Leading Canadian Discount Retailer Initiates Digital Transformation Beginning With New 600,000 Square Foot Distribution Center
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company (NYSE: HPE), today announced
that Giant Tiger, a leading Canadian discount chain with more than 240
locations and employing over 8,000 people, has deployed an Aruba Mobile
First Network in multiple operations locations including its new 600,000
square foot distribution center, as part of the company’s expansion
plans. The new distribution center will utilize the Aruba network to
enable automated inventory operations and deliver secure and pervasive
wireless connectivity.
Giant Tiger’s business philosophy is to keep operational costs low and
sell a high volume of merchandise including apparel, grocery and home
fashion at affordable price points. According to Eric Boudreau, Director
of Network Engineering and Operations for Giant Tiger Stores Limited,
implementing a mobile-first infrastructure is critical to meeting this
fundamental business objective.
“Having a network that is always available and enables greater
efficiencies is a huge priority for Giant Tiger,” Boudreau said.
“Aruba’s mobile-first approach matched our organization’s need to
streamline operations, improve inventory processes and move towards
efficiencies and efficacy.”
With assistance from partner Mobia
Technology, Giant Tiger deployed Aruba 300 Series indoor and outdoor
access points, 7200 Series Mobility Controllers, 2920 Switches, AirWave
network management and ClearPass Guest for authenticating visitors, in
its headquarters and active distribution center in Ottawa, a freezer
facility in Brockville, and new distribution center in Johnstown.
The ruggedized Aruba outdoor access points are ideal for Giant Tiger’s
200,000 square foot freezer facility, given the extreme temperatures in
that location, and the Aruba indoor access points used in the two
distribution centers – particularly the new facility – easily
accommodated the connectivity challenges associated with ceiling heights
of up to 60 feet.
For the new distribution center, in particular, wireless was the primary
focus of the design. Using Aruba wireless access points, Giant Tiger
could ensure pervasive coverage and full redundancy for 24x7
availability, and fast, reliable connectivity for workers, including
forklift drivers who need to update the system using mobile computers
while working – sometimes from 40 feet in the air.
The network enables the warehouse management system to increase both the
speed and, more importantly, the accuracy of Giant Tiger’s supply
picking. Increased picking accuracy results in a higher percentage of
correct product on store shelves, improving the overall efficiency of
Giant Tiger’s inventory process and ultimately, impacting sales
positively.
“We have voice-picking RF devices and approximately 140 pickers between
our Ottawa distribution facilities and the new center in Johnstown, who
are picking goods conventionally, using voice pick technology through a
Bluetooth headset,” explained John Hubbard, Associate Vice President,
Warehousing, Giant Tiger Wholesale Limited. “The pickers are directed to
choose a location and are required to provide a check digit to confirm
that they are at the correct pick location, and the system then tells
them the quantity of units to pick. The entire picking process depends
on the Wi-Fi. Without a high-performing, reliable wireless connection,
our picking staff could not do their jobs as effectively.”
The network enables other mission-critical applications such as
inventory control, allowing receiving dock associates to quickly scan
inbound products via ruggedized handheld RF scanners while forklift
operators can perform “put away” and replenishment functions using
barcode scanners that are connected by USB to large screens tablets
mounted on their forklifts for easy and safe viewing. In both
situations, Giant Tiger team members can ensure products are tracked and
correlated in the system for more efficient inventory control. The
system is designed to assist staff by making their tasks easier, more
efficient, and accurate.
Although Giant Tiger is currently using Aruba ClearPass primarily to
deliver simplified guest access to vendors visiting the company’s home
office or distribution center, the organization plans to pilot guest
access in its stores in the near future. In addition, since Giant Tiger
is using Aruba location-ready APs that contain built-in Bluetooth Low
Energy (BLE) beacons, Jeff Scobie, Senior Vice President, Information
Systems for Giant Tiger Stores Limited, says the organization will
evaluate how they can leverage location services as they move forward
with their digital transformation process.
“With the new, Aruba mobile-first foundation now in place, we’re
confident that we can layer new applications and capabilities on top of
the network as we need them. And by transforming and improving how we
operate, we can continue to meet our company’s core objective of
delivering valued products at low prices to our customers.”
About Giant Tiger
Giant Tiger is the leading Canadian-owned family discount store,
committed to providing on-trend family fashions, groceries and everyday
household needs. Known as Canada’s best-kept secret, the privately held
company has over 240 locations across Canada and employs over 8,300 team
members. You can also shop online at gianttiger.com. All Giant Tiger
locations are locally owned or operated by a team member who knows the
community. The friendly stores with the iconic yellow logo are not only
where Canadians shop more and spend less, but also are proud to be known
as retailer of choice. #foryouforless #GTcommunityproud #GTCanadaproud
Gianttiger.com
About Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, is a leading provider of
next-generation networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes
worldwide. The company delivers IT solutions that empower organizations
to serve the latest generation of mobile-savvy users who rely on
cloud-based business apps for every aspect of their work and personal
lives.
To learn more, visit Aruba at
http://www.arubanetworks.com
.
For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook,
and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products
visit Airheads Social at
http://community.arubanetworks.com
.
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Pavel Radda, +1-408-419-0294
pavel.radda@hpe.com
or
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Lori Hultin, +1-818-879-4651
lori.hultin@hpe.com