Multiple stores. One IT setup that works the same everywhere.
Many retail chains end up with a different setup at every branch – a different firewall, different Wi-Fi, a different till. NDVDL builds network, POS network, Wi-Fi and inventory systems so each store runs on the same pattern and can be managed centrally.
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How do retail chains build an IT network that reliably connects POS systems, Wi-Fi and inventory management across every branch?
Retail chains connect their branches to head office over a VPN and set up network, firewall and Wi-Fi at each store using the same configuration, rather than letting every location grow on its own. POS systems and payment terminals run on their own network segment, separated from the rest of the network, with customer Wi-Fi kept on a further segment of its own. NDVDL plans and builds this structure for retailers, specialist shops and store chains across Vienna, Lower Austria and Slovakia, and connects inventory management with online shops and marketplaces through interfaces. That means a new branch can open on the same pattern as the existing ones, and a change at head office applies to every store at once.
What actually goes wrong in retail chains
Four situations we see regularly in retail and multi-store operations.
Every branch running its own setup
Over the years, each location ends up with its own router, its own till and its own cabling, usually installed by whichever technician was available at the time. A change at head office, such as a new firewall rule or a new POS module, cannot be rolled out to every branch the same way.
POS network and customer Wi-Fi sharing one network
In many stores, the POS system, payment terminal and guest Wi-Fi sit on the same network because nobody separated them at the outset. A problem on the customer Wi-Fi – an infected device, or a network overloaded on a busy Saturday morning – then affects the till directly.
Outages on Saturdays or during the Christmas season
When the network or POS system fails, it tends to happen on the busiest days: Saturday mornings or the weeks before Christmas. Without monitoring and remote support in place, staff are often left improvising at the till until someone can get on site.
Backup that isn't consistent across locations
Some branches back up their till data and inventory reliably, others not at all, or only to a local drive in the stockroom. It's usually only after a fault or a theft that it becomes clear which location was left unprotected.
One IT foundation for every location
Six building blocks that let retailers and store chains standardise their IT.
Network and VPN between branches and head office
NDVDL plans network and VPN so every branch connects using the same configuration instead of a setup that grew one-off over time. Changes made at head office can then be rolled out identically to every location.
Separate network for POS and payment terminals
POS systems and payment terminals run in their own network segment, kept apart from customer Wi-Fi and the rest of the operational network. A problem on the guest Wi-Fi can no longer reach the till.
Customer Wi-Fi kept separate from the POS network
NDVDL sets up a dedicated Wi-Fi network for customers that covers the whole sales floor and is technically fully separated from the POS network. Shoppers stay connected without exposing the till to extra risk.
CCTV with a clean data-protection basis
Camera systems for the till area and stockroom are planned with a proper legal basis in mind – changing rooms and staff rooms stay consistently excluded. NDVDL advises on placement, signage and retention period for each branch.
Inventory connected to online shop and marketplaces
NDVDL connects inventory management to online shops and marketplaces through interfaces, so stock levels stay current in both directions. A sale in the store updates the stock shown online, and the other way round.
Remote support and consistent backup
Instead of sending a technician to every branch for each fault, NDVDL resolves most issues remotely. Backup runs on the same schedule across every location, so till data and inventory don't depend on how careful any one branch happens to be.
Related services in detail
For your region in detail
What a retail project looks like
Three project shapes that come up often in retail and multi-store operations.
Opening a new branch
A retailer is planning a new branch and wants network, POS, Wi-Fi and CCTV considered from the start rather than retrofitted later. NDVDL plans the connection to head office, the separation of POS and customer Wi-Fi, and camera placement before the branch opens.
Standardising a store chain that grew unevenly
A store chain has built up its own setup at each location over the years and wants network, firewall and backup brought onto one shared configuration. NDVDL surveys each location, restructures step by step, and connects every branch to the same central management.
Connecting inventory to an online shop
A specialist retailer sells in-store and through an online shop but still tracks stock separately for each. NDVDL sets up an interface between inventory management and the online shop or marketplace so stock stays in sync in both directions.
Multiple stores, one shared IT foundation?
Get in touch – NDVDL will look at your locations and propose a setup that fits your store network.
Rather talk it through? Call us — you reach someone who knows the technology.
+43 800 007075Frequently asked questions from retailers and store chains
Answers to what retail operations ask us most often.
Further reading
Multiple stores, one shared IT foundation?
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