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Advance Auto Parts turns to Velociti to install improved
business process technology in more than 2,600 North
American locations in just 90 days
For Advance Auto Parts, the challenges were daunting. The Roanoke, Virginia-based
Fortune 500 Company-- the second-largest retailer of automotive aftermarket parts,
accessories, batteries and maintenance items with 35,000 employees and 2,652
stores in 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands—had an immediate need to
upgrade various generations of RF and computer equipment as part of a larger
project to modernize store layout and systems to enable more efficient business
processes for store management.
Not only was the project huge, but Advance Auto Parts wanted it done in an
expedited timeframe which called for just two weeks notice for the installations to
begin and approximately 90 days to outfit and implement working systems in more
than 2,600 locations across the US.
The deployment required:
• upgrades and installations of in-store RF networks and devices
• installation of memory in PC-based cash registers
• firmware upgrade in existing RF devices
• network enable all back office printers and install new printer in some stores
• install new wireless switches to control and manage the new RF devices and
configure these devices to store specific specifications
To meet its technology deployment project management needs, Advance Auto Parts
turned to industry leader Velociti, Inc. Velociti was responsible for all aspects of
the deployment and installation.
Staging and Inventory Management
Velociti assembled all of the necessary technology, staged all equipment in it’s
Atlanta facility and shipped customized kits to Advance Auto Parts Stores across the
US. The project required:
• 25,000 pieces of computer memory
• Nearly 2,300 network cards for in store printers
• 265 new laser printers
• Over 2,300 new wireless switches
• More than 2,500 RF printers
• Nearly 280 new Symbol access ports
• Over 2,600 antennae
• More than 200,000 feet (or roughly 38 miles) of cable
Project Management
Velociti provided a dedicated manager who oversaw the efforts of 23 full-time
technicians as they completed two store installations per day, six days a week. Each
technician was trained and took part in a 50-store pilot project to validate installation
processes.
In addition, Velociti created a web-based tool for tracking the progress of the
technology deployment and for daily, periodic and end-of-project reconciliation
reporting. This web solution gave designated personnel at Advance Auto complete
insight to the progress of the project, allowing them to know exactly which stores
were complete and which were next to be deployed.
The entire Advance Auto Parts technology deployment project required over 52,000
route miles, including over 4,300 miles by one technician, in order for all locations to
be successfully completed in the 90-day timeframe.
With an in-house IT staff of less than a dozen people, outsourcing this large,
complex and time critical technology deployment was the most viable option for
Advance Auto Parts. “We investigated our options thoroughly and found that not
many companies were willing or able to handle the diversity and challenges of the
project,” stated Chuck Kingery, Director of Store Technology. “Only Velociti offered
the versatility and ability to manage a large, nationwide project on budget and on
time and with the expertise we needed to get the job done.” About Velociti Inc.
Kansas City-based Velociti Inc. was founded in 1989 as a division of Central States
Thermo King. The company was created to provide mobile installation and service
technicians that perform all aspects of technology deployments for the transportation,
retail and warehousing market sectors. Velociti clients include many Fortune 500
companies from wide variety of market segments, including transportation, technology,
retail, food service, distribution and manufacturing. Velociti has achieved double-digit
sales growth every year since 1995 and now offers service in the U.S., Canada, Mexico,
Puerto Rico and Western Europe. For more information visit www.velociti.us or call
913-233-7227.
Media Contact:
Susan Fall
LaunchIt Public Relations
858-490-1050
susan@launchitpr.com
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