Retail's BIG Show - New York - January 16, 2012 - Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARUN) today announced that Aaron's, Inc., the nation's leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has deployed a mobile access network based on the Aruba Mobile Virtual Enterprise (MOVE) architecture at more than 1,800 stores in 48 states and Canada. Aaron's is using the network to enable workers to roam seamlessly between sites and to enhance customers' experiences in the store.
"Mobility at Aaron's is really taking off at a rapid pace," said John Trainor, CIO for Aaron's. "We have a very mobile workforce, with our regional managers, divisional vice presidents and many of our associates constantly moving from store to store. We want to make sure that they are all able to access their communications applications as they roam between stores. We also use the wireless network to demonstrate the WiFi capabilities of the products in our stores."
Aaron's stores carry WiFi-enabled items such as tablets, televisions, DVD players and other appliances. The new mobile network enables associates to demonstrate these products to new customers, and allows customers to get additional information about the products using QR codes. Aaron's plans to implement tablet-based customer order forms to make the initial experience as smooth and seamless as possibl
In selecting a vendor for its mobile network, Aaron's placed a high priority on security, an area where Aruba clearly stood apart from others in Aaron's evaluations.
"We take a lot of care with our customer data, so having a strong, secure wireless network was key," said Trainor. "We're putting a wireless network in, but that's actually only part of what we're doing. By deploying Aruba in all of our stores, we're securing our network. That's the way we explain it to the managers. We're providing more security than we've ever had before, and, oh, by the way, you're getting a wireless network out of it."
The Aaron's deployment today consists of two Aruba 6000 Mobility Controllers with M3 controller modules, and more than 1,900 Aruba AP-105 access points, all served by Aruba AirWaveTM network management.
"Mobility is rapidly changing the way retailers engage their customers," said Manish Rai, director of industry solutions marketing for Aruba. "Leaders like Aaron's are realizing that in the mobile world, where competitors are just a click away, enhancing in-store customer experience is the key to success."
