Save A Lot becomes ‘mobile-first’ with new cloud infrastructure

One of the largest discount grocery store chains in the U.S is streamlining the use of mobile devices across its enterprise.

Save A Lot is deploying an Aruba ESP (Edge Services Platform) network to support a technology transformation initiative across its entire organization. By rolling out the Aruba infrastructure in its St. Louis headquarters, 13 wholesale distribution centers, and nearly 1,000 retail stores in 32 states, Save A Lot intends to enable more modern, mobile-, and cloud-first operations.

Currently, Save A Lot in the process of transitioning to a wholesale model. A critical piece of this transformation is providing secure and reliable connectivity in its distribution centers, where the company’s product selectors have been utilizing a slow and inefficient network. In addition, Save A Lot wants to ensure that its new headquarters, supporting more than a thousand users and their devices, becomes a collaborative, mobile-first space.

Save A Lot is implementing a full suite of Aruba ESP solutions, delivered by its service provider, AT&T, as a managed service. These solutions include Aruba access switches, Wi-Fi 6 access points and mobility controllers, ClearPass Policy Manager for full wired and wireless network access control, and Aruba Central for cloud-based management.

AT&T will provide site surveys, structured cabling, installation and management of the Aruba ESP solution for Save A Lot. The service will also allow Save A Lot to utilize many different Internet of Things (IoT) devices across the Wi-Fi platform.

At Save A Lot’s new corporate headquarters, employees leverage smart conference rooms throughout the facility and use collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams to conduct business. In addition, executives regularly use video broadcasts to communicate with and provide strategic business updates to employees in the distribution centers and stores.

Leveraging Aruba ESP, Save A Lot can support a greater number of users and devices at improved speeds and without sacrificing reliability. For example, Aruba’s new infrastructure will make it possible for someone to take a Teams call and walk from one side of the building to the other without the call dropping.

In stores, Aruba Central provides a centralized, cloud-based platform to manage all aspects of its network, allowing expansion of mobile devices, new technologies and applications, and IoT devices.

Save A Lot plans to complete phase one of its Aruba ESP deployment by the end of October 2021, which will include seven of its distribution centers, its St. Louis-based corporate stores, and its headquarters. In phase two, the company will connect the remaining distribution centers and complete the rollout to its licensed partners for the remaining retail stores.

“We believe Aruba will be a critical unlock for our IT infrastructure and are thrilled to be working with the team to implement a broad range of solutions designed to help us maximize productivity in all of our facilities,” said Jennifer Hopper, CIO at Save A Lot. “Whether in our distribution centers, home office or our stores, empowering our team members with fast and frictionless network access is a top priority. I’m confident Aruba will help us deliver an outstanding experience that will help us further accelerate our transformation.”