Associated Food Stores Streamlines Multi-Location Communication Services with Centralized, On-Demand Solutions from Integra
PORTLAND, Ore. – June 18, 2013 – Integra™, a provider of fiber-based, carrier-grade networking, communications and technology solutions, has been selected by Associated Food Stores, a cooperative wholesale food distributor based in Salt Lake City, Utah to unify business operations over a single high-bandwidth network infrastructure.
Associated Food Stores distributes groceries to 400 retailers in eight western states and operates 45 retail grocery stores in the region. With a small IT department overseeing voice and data applications critical to keep its stores, pharmacies and distribution centers running smoothly, Associated Food Stores requires robust, flexible and easy-to-manage communications services. Integra’s Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) solutions were chosen to enable them to cost-effectively connect multiple locations in real time on a single communications platform. Moreover, Integra’s SIP solutions allowed Associated Food Stores to adjust bandwidth allocation for data services or voice traffic, maximizing network utilization and eliminating the expense of separate networks.
“In addition to reliable and cost-effective solutions, we needed a provider who was willing to work with us. The level of customer support Integra provides is unlike anything we had experienced; Integra’s support team was as dependable as the solutions they provided,” said David Tigner, senior network engineer at Associated Food Stores. “With Integra, we’ve turned our communications services into a competitive asset. Now, we can focus on our core business with peace of mind.”
Integra built a customized set of communication services to serve Associated Food Store’s specific business needs. These include IP/MPLS VPN, which increases speed and manageability of data flows, allowing the grocery distributor to purchase bandwidth and scale services according to the requirements of individual operations. Integra is also migrating the food distributor’s physical Primary Rate Interface (PRI) trunks to Integra’s Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunking service, centralizing management and troubleshooting of the company’s entire communications network to a single platform. By streamlining service and increasing efficiency, Integra presented Associated Food Stores with significant savings.
“Enterprises like Associated Food Stores need secure and dependable communications and data solutions that scale as their business grows. With a diverse business model and broad operational reach, yet limited IT resources, it was critical that Integra customize its services with a level of support that allowed Associated Food Stores to focus on critical business matters other than their network infrastructure,” said Ken Smith, executive vice president of sales at Integra. “We’re proud to provide multi-location enterprises like Associated Food Stores with flexible, manageable and cost-effective communications systems.”
For more about Integra’s partnership with Associated Food Stores, Integra has published an in-depth case study.
About Integra
Integra™ is one of the largest facilities-based providers of communication and networking services in the western United States. We connect businesses of all sizes with advanced networking, communications and technology solutions in 35 metropolitan markets. Integra owns and operates an enterprise-class network consisting of a 5,000-mile long-haul fiber-optic network, 3,000–miles of metropolitan fiber and a nationwide IP/MPLS network. Our fiber network connects directly to more than 2,300 enterprise buildings and data centers. Through our expansive Ethernet-over-copper footprint, we can deliver high-bandwidth services to more than 400,000 businesses. At Integra, we understand our customers need reliable, secure and flexible solutions delivered with unmatched expertise and quality of service. For more information, visit www.integratelecom.com.
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