By equipping its terminals with M2M SIM cards, OMS Retail has eliminated the need to install temporary Wi-Fi networks in the stores where its teams conduct inventories. DEEP’s solution now provides connectivity for around 1,700 mobile devices that travel throughout Europe.
OMS Retail is a full-service partner for retailers across Europe. Based in Garbsen, Germany, the company takes on personnel-intensive tasks in stores, including full-service inventories, the complete lifecycle of electronic shelf labels (ESLs), in-store services, and consulting for large-scale retail projects. Inventory remains the company's core business, where connectivity is of the utmost importance.
“Inventories require a large number of employees. We deploy our staff at our clients’ locations to count products on shelves and in stock,” explains Eric Bechtloff, Application Manager at OMS Retail. “Our teams use mobile terminals to scan product references and transmit the data to our cloud platform. We can then consolidate the data and communicate the inventory results to our clients.”
Over its twenty years in business, OMS Retail has developed expertise combining operational skills and innovation to serve the retail sector. The company now has more than 900 employees, organised into around 70 teams across ten countries.
Moving away from store Wi-Fi
To carry out each inventory operation effectively, OMS Retail needs to guarantee its teams a stable, high-quality connection. “Initially, our scanners could not accommodate a SIM card. As we could not always use our clients’ Wi-Fi networks, we had to deploy temporary networks before each inventory,” explains Eric Bechtloff. “This installation required time and made our services more complex. When we adopted terminals that could accommodate a SIM card, we looked for a mobile connectivity solution that would allow us to no longer depend on store Wi-Fi.”
This need for mobile connectivity grew as the business expanded beyond Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The terminals now travel between several European countries. “We therefore looked for a solution capable of operating while roaming, while maintaining a sufficiently stable connection for exchanges with our cloud application,” Eric Bechtloff continues. “The application can handle occasional interruptions, but the connection must remain available for most of the operation.”
Stability, roaming and competitive pricing
OMS Retail compared and tested several IoT SIM card providers designed to be integrated directly into its terminals. “DEEP’s connectivity convinced us based on two decisive criteria: connection stability and roaming coverage,” explains Eric Bechtloff. The offering also proved competitive in terms of pricing.
Managing SIM cards from a centralised platform
In addition to connection stability, the main strength of DEEP’s M2M solution, OMS Retail values the associated management platform. “It allows us to monitor and control the SIM cards and their usage. We can easily adapt the plans and pool the available data volumes,” explains Eric Bechtloff. The company can also associate a SIM card with a terminal’s IMEI identifier. If the card is moved to another device, it can be automatically blocked and a notification is sent.
1,700 SIM cards deployed
Around 1,700 DEEP SIM cards are currently deployed in OMS Retail’s terminals. They are not tied to fixed sites: the equipment travels with the teams, from Germany to Switzerland, from Italy to Sweden, as well as to other European countries where OMS Retail conducts inventories. Each terminal has its own mobile connection and communicates directly with the cloud application.
“These connected devices make it easier to deploy our teams at our clients’ locations. They become operational more quickly. The efficiency gains provided by the solution therefore help reduce the cost of our services,” emphasises Eric Bechtloff.
A relationship built on continuity and dialogue
Over the years, OMS Retail has progressively consolidated its entire fleet of terminals with DEEP. For Eric Bechtloff, the longevity of the partnership is due as much to the solution’s performance as to the quality of the relationship. “Commercial discussions are constructive and are based on a relationship of trust. Our exchanges take place in a true spirit of partnership. I would have no hesitation in recommending DEEP,” he concludes.
