Case Study: Ann Taylor Achieves Nationwide Retail Connectivity and Faster Growth with Cisco and Information Transport Solutions

Ann Taylor Uses Intelligent Network Infrastructure to Connect Hundreds of Nationwide Locations and Facilitate Rapid Growth

Ann Taylor, a nationwide apparel retailer, needed to quickly connect more than 600 stores so it could improve real-time inventory visibility, support new credit-card and online sales services, and scale its network without adding complexity. The company also wanted a reliable, standards-based infrastructure that could support future voice, video, and other services across stores. Information Transport Solutions worked with Ann Taylor to identify the right networking approach, with Cisco VPN-capable routers and related network infrastructure as the core technology.

Information Transport Solutions helped Ann Taylor deploy a Cisco-based solution using VPN tunnels over Internet connections, Cisco 3745 and 7204 routers at headquarters, and Cisco 1710/1721 routers in stores. The new network enabled secure, real-time access to inventory, sales, and fulfillment systems, improved store-to-store service, and reduced communications and support costs. The rollout reached 600 stores in just four months, and Ann Taylor reported better throughput, response time, reliability, and uptime, with sales increasing at locations using the new system.

Ann Taylor

Tom Pane

Vice President of Technology Services