The second-largest global Applebee's restaurant franchisee has upgraded its networks with the help of a managed services provider (MSP). Interface Security Systems is working with the company, RMH Franchise, to provide secure SD-WAN over broadband, 4G/LTE wireless WAN backup and VoIP solutions.
RMH was looking to update its aging network environment when the company decided to enlist the help of a MSP. The company's restaurants are now enjoying faster application performance, wireless failover capabilities and a dependable voice solution. The improvements come at a critical time, as restaurants throughout the world are dealing with lockdown and social distancing mandates due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I had been mainly keeping our IT in-house and managed our own Internet connections, routers, security, etc.,” said Roger Somers, executive director of IT, RMH Franchise. “As our footprint was growing, the requirements for a secure network were also increasing, and it made sense for us to outsource. PCI (Payment Card Industry) requirements also became more stringent and businesses were required to adhere to stricter compliance rules.”
The network upgrades facilitate a variety of functions for the restaurant chain, including Applebee's Carside-To-Go, an online ordering and delivery service that has been extremely popular during the coronavirus.
RMH chose MSP Interface because they provided a scalable, cost-effective solution for managing and securing the company's IT network as well as voice communications across all its locations. The MSP was already working with CSCS, the purchasing agent for Applebee's.
The next-generation secure SD-WAN architecture features broadband upgrades, while the managed 4G/LTE wireless solution offers terrestrial circuits in areas with low-speed broadbands. The wireless service automatically takes over if the primary network connection fails. This enables seamless failover for POS transactions, credit card processing, inventory management and more. The combined solution provides an improved network experience for both the restaurants and guests.
The VoIP phone service also enabled the MSP to migrate all franchise locations from legacy phone systems to a fully hosted cloud model. The offering is helping RMH save on long-distance costs and also standardizes all its voice communications.
“The remote recording plays our business hours, curbside delivery or take out specials and can dynamically route calls," said Somers. "This reduces a lot of the call volume directly into the restaurants, has increased our efficiencies, and saved us time and money.”
He added that RMH has enjoyed increased agility, improved operational efficiencies, benefitted from augmented security and realized a 10X cost savings since upgrading its network. The company plans to continue working with Interface to add alarm monitoring services.
To learn more about how MSPs are shaping the future of networking and voice communications, TMC is hosting MSP Expo from June 22-25, 2021, in Miami, FL. The event will bring together MSPs and technology specialists to facilitate discussions about strategy and growth within the industry.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
