MegaPath Solutions By Industry

Retail

Retail Solutions Datasheet

Retailers face significant challenges in today's highly competitive and fast-changing business environment. The flag has dropped and the race has begun for retailers to supercharge their stores with in-store systems that improve the shopping experience for customers as well as the efficiency and productivity of store personnel and back office operations. But, just as CIOs are shifting into high gear for initiatives like wireless POS, faster payment processing, kiosks, loyalty cards, distance learning, and RFID, they are finding that existing dial and frame relay networks may not be suitable options to accommodate connectivity, scalability, flexibility, reliability, and cost requirements needed to be competitive in today's retail marketplace.

What can a MegaPath Managed Network solution do for your retail business?

MegaPath's StoreConnect solution is designed to empower the storefront with a Wide Area Networking (WAN) infrastructure that can securely connect all stores, employees, and shoppers to reliable and secure applications and information all company functions. As the retailer looks to add new in-store applications and systems, StoreConnect enables the CIO's office to seamlessly deliver new productivity, efficiency and an enhanced customer experience to their stores.

This flexible, cost-effective broadband VPN service is also one of the most robust Wide Area Networking (WAN) solutions in the industry. Unlike competitors' broadband offerings or a do-it-yourself approach, MegaPath leverages its all-optical MPLS network to deliver superior performance for next-generation applications, like VoIP and video. In addition, MegaPath offers a variety of retail-specific ancillary services, like Managed HotSpot, and has partnered with select Merchant Service providers to make retail chains more efficient, customer-friendly and competitive.

Visa And American Express Security Compliance (CISP)

"MegaPath's Visa compliance verifies that we will receive the best possible security for our critical communications."
Caryl Paez, CIO at Cache

As the leader in retail broadband VPNs, MegaPath was the first Network Service Provider to comply with the Visa and American Express Cardholder Information Security Programs (CISP). This involved a comprehensive review process to ensure that the MegaPath and its VPN solutions met strict security guidelines. The review included verification that MegaPath has implemented procedures to regularly test its security systems and processes; has adopted a company-wide information security policy; and has adopted a process to restrict access to network equipment and systems to authorized personnel only.

POS Systems	Faster transaction times (2-3 seconds) and secure POS (Point of Sale) credit and debit card processing ensure guest satisfaction.
Cashless Transactions	Use of credit and debit cards lead to lower transaction costs and higher average dollars per receipt, 17% to 30%.
Fast Information Retreival	Connect all your locations via the same network, enabling real-time data between locations.
Gift Card and Loyalty Programs	Quick and easy activation and redemption, processed in real-time, is appreciated by customers and fosters repeat business.
Implement Self Checkout	Cater to customers by accelerating checkout. Allow customers to scan and pay for their products without assistance. Increase revenue by speeding up the shopping experience and reduce labor and training costs by appointing one worker to oversee multiple checkout registers.
Reap the Benefits of RFID	Optimize pricing with on demand price-setting, based on inventory, shelf life, stock levels and customer preferences. Automate stock and shelf replenishment by automatically monitoring product quantity, placement and activity, and sending alerts to restock, rearrange or reorder as necessary.
Streamline Store Operations	Connect all your properties via the same network, enabling real-time data between locations. Ensure that "best practices" are consistently executed across the entire organization for pricing, promotions, purchasing, inventory management, etc.
Control Shrink	Retailers use a variety of technologies to combat shrink ranging from video surveillance, cash office and sales audit systems, electronic article surveillance, to knowledge-based systems. No matter the technique used, there is a requirement to move large amounts of data from stores to headquarters for analysis, problem identification and evidence collection in an effort to discover fraud, remove dishonest employees and recover more money.
Reduce Operations Costs	Simplify administration and reduce cost by unifying your infrastructure into a secure, converged communication network for voice and data.
Integrate and Analyze Information	Integrate your back-office functions. Fully integrated front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house systems will free mangers to spend more time with customers. Manage and automate the procurement process, making sure the right supplies are available at the right time.
Workforce Management	Increase operational efficiency with applications like online employee training and centralized labor scheduling, payroll processing etc.
Secure Information Transit	When buyers access data remotely, security becomes increasingly worrisome. No matter who they are and virtually anywhere they go, help all your staff be productive and efficient, securely and cost-effectively.
Expand your Business	Add new facilities quickly and easily via nationwide network coverage and rapid provisioning.

MegaPath's Retail Industry Experience

Restaurants

Incorporating high technology into a "high touch" business

Restaurant Solutions Datasheet

Restaurant-industry sales are approaching $500 million dollars annually, about 5% of the U.S. gross domestic product. However, the industry is not without challenges as it is paced by the wants and behaviors of a changing population.

Increased competition among restaurateurs: Full Service - Fine Dining, Casual Dining, Family Restaurant or Limited Service - Fast Casual, Cafeteria, In-store Feeder, QuickServe, will continue to enhance their levels of service and food quality in response to consumers who will purchase meals wherever their needs are satisfied.

What can a MegaPath Managed Network solution do for your restaurant business?

MegaPath is delivering broadband IP VPN solutions that address the needs of restaurateurs to provide a more customer-friendly environment. We are also working with partners to enable Restaurateurs to drive overall business performance by bringing forward opportunities to develop incremental revenue streams, improve staff productivity and reduce operational costs while they incorporate high technology into a "high touch" business. Here's how:

POS Systems	Faster transaction times (2-3 seconds) and secure POS (Point of Sale) credit and debit card processing and sure payments ensure guest satisfaction. Customer convenience is enhanced through use of wider receipts for ease of signature and supports of direct advertising on the receipt.
Cashless Transactions	Use of credit and debit cards lead to lower transaction costs and higher average dollars per receipt, 17% to 30%.
Fast Information Retreival	Connect all your locations via the same network, enabling real-time data between locations.
Gift Card and Loyalty Programs	Quick and easy activation and redemption, processed in real-time, is appreciated by customers and fosters repeat business.
Variety of Payment Options	A growing trend in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry is offering a variety of payment options for customers. Cashless transactions lead to faster customer service and customer throughput.
Online Order for Takeout	Allow guests to view menus and order food online at their convenience. Build your brand image with an online presence and increase your operational efficiency and guest convenience.
Wi-Fi Access to your Customers	Allow your guests Internet access, e-mail, chat or connectivity to their corporate network via VPN. This provides convenience to the customer and an opportunity to brand and target the business customers.
Streamline your Operations	Connect all your properties via the same network, enabling real-time data between locations. Ensure that "best practices" are consistently executed across the entire organization for pricing, promotions, purchasing, inventory replenishment, etc.
Control Shrink	Restaurateurs use a variety of technologies to combat shrink ranging from video surveillance, cash office and sales audit systems, electronic article surveillance, to knowledge-based systems. No matter the technique used, there is a requirement to move large amounts of data from stores to headquarters for analysis, problem identification and evidence collection in an effort to discover fraud, remove dishonest employees and recover more money.
Reduce Operations Costs	Reduce operations costs - Simplify administration and reduce cost by unifying your infrastructure into a secure, converged communication network for voice and data.
Workforce Management	While fewer staff may be required to run the technologically-driven restaurant, those who are employed will be hires, trained and scheduled with high-tech assistance. Increase operational efficiency with applications like online employee training and centralized labor scheduling, payroll processing etc.
Expand your Business	Add new restaurants quickly and easily via nationwide network coverage and rapid provisioning.

MegaPath's Restaurant Industry Experience

Healthcare & Hospitality (click to view)

Increasing efficiency and delivering quality patient care

Today's healthcare organizations, including education, research, administration and patient care confront numerous challenges in their effort to increase efficiency and deliver quality patient care. These challenges include rising clinical and administrative costs, worker shortages, meting tighter compliance and security mandates and safety and quality issues.

What can a MegaPath Managed Network solution do for your healthcare business?

MegaPath is committed to providing quality managed broadband IP VPN and security solutions the healthcare industry needs to address the many challenges that both technical- and business-focused healthcare professionals face. Our managed network services are enabling the healthcare industry to deliver quality patient care with higher efficiency. Here's how:

Share Information	Collect and share information across the enterprise. Provide easier access to more patient information in physician offices, nurses' stations, hospital rooms and other points of care.
Fast Information Retrieval	Improve the quality of patient care by giving physicians and nurses the ability to access patient information faster no matter where they are. Healthcare employees who can do more to help patients faster get happier healthier people faster.
Secure Information Transport	When mobile caregivers access data remotely, security becomes increasingly worrisome. No matter whom they are and virtually anywhere they go, help all your staff be productive and efficient, securely and cost-effectively.
Integrate and Analyze Information	Enhance healthcare programs and better capitalize on experience using knowledge management systems. Integrate your back-office functions. Manage and automate the procurement process, making sure the right supplies are available at the right time.
Streamline Your Operations	Connect all your several labs, clinics, or hospitals via the same network, enabling real-time data between locations. Improve care by enabling easier access to information from disparate systems. Store, access and distribute patient information while facilitating compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Transform Business Processes	Transmit information electronically between payers, pharmaceutical companies and other providers. Create paperless processes and automated workflow to help reduce errors and streamline operations.
Workforce Management	Increase operational efficiency with applications like online employee training and centralized labor scheduling, payroll processing etc.
Monitor Video Surveillance throughout your Facilities	Provide a more safe patient care environment, reduce insurance costs and facilitate compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Expand your Business	Add new facilities quickly and easily via nationwide network coverage and rapid provisioning.

MegaPath's Healthcare Industry Experience

Hospitality Solutions

Enhancing guest services - driving business success

Hospitality providers have always been able to tie success to their ability to deliver exceptional levels of guest services. While this remains true today, what has not stayed constant is what is required to address the growing expectations of guests. The Hospitality Industry is increasingly turning to communications technology to proactively address guest requirements for convenient, personal and effective service while driving occupancy rates and improved bottom line performance.

What can a MegaPath Managed Network solution do for your hospitality business?

MegaPath is partnering with hotels, convention centers and resorts to deliver solutions that address guest needs by increasing service responsiveness and by enabling them to seamlessly connect with the people and information that they care about. Hospitality Providers are using our managed Broadband IP VPN and security services to drive the overall business performance by bringing forward opportunities to develop incremental revenue streams, improve staff productivity and reduce operational costs. Here's how:

Online Reservations	Allow guests to book reservations online at their convenience. Build your brand image with an online presence and increase your operational efficiency.
Give your guests more	Business guests especially have an increasing need to stay connected. Offering guests easy-to-use Internet access not only helps you serve guests better, but also allows you to specifically target business travelers. Attract corporate groups and business events with Web conferencing capabilities.
Wi-Fi access to your customers	Flexible connectivity options for your business guests in high-traffic areas like lobbies and conference rooms, or even in individual guest rooms allowing you to stay ahead of your competition.
Loyalty programs	Quick and easy activation and redemption, processed in real-time, is appreciated by customers and fosters repeat business.
Fast and Secure Transactions	Fast PoS (Point-of-Sale) credit and debit card processing and secure payments ensure guest satisfaction.
Increase guest safety	Monitor video surveillance throughout your property.
Streamline your operations	Connect all your properties via the same network, enabling real-time data between locations. Ensure that items such as pricing, promotions, purchasing, etc., are consistently executed across the entire organization.
Workforce Management	Increase operational efficiency with applications like online employee training and centralized labor scheduling, payroll processing, etc.
Expand your business	Add new properties quickly and easily via nationwide network coverage and rapid provisioning.

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MegaPath's Hospitality Experience

Insurance & Financial Services

Using communications to create a strategic advantage

The insurance and financial services industries continue to adapt to numerous changes in the marketplace. Changing regulations and legislation presents both opportunities and challenges. Opportunities arise as insurance and financial institutions are allowed to offer an ever-broadening range of services, challenges involve achieving regulatatory compliance in a timely fashion.

These competitive pressures challenge insurance and financial services providers to streamline their operations as they seek cheaper, faster-to-market solutions that meet customer and business partner demands. Profits are dependent on acquiring new customers and improved cross-selling of products and services while minimizing transaction costs.

What can a MegaPath Managed Network solution do for your insurance and financial services business?

MegaPath's managed services solutions allow Insurance and Financial Services companies to leverage technological advances in communications and applications to gain a strategic advantage - whether it's using a secure IP VPN broadband network to connect branch offices or building more efficient contact centers. Here's how:

Fast Information Retrieval	Connect all your locations via the same network, enabling real-time data between locations. Store, access and distribute client information while facilitating compliance with government (Sarbanes-Oxley) regulations.
Stay in Touch With Clients	Firms are under escalating pressure to be responsive around the clock, both inside and outside the office. To respond to clients and colleagues. Insurance and financial professionals need secure real-time access to client information, reference material and communication tools at work, at home, or on the road.
Secure Information Transport	The need to protect proprietary company information and confidential client records is essential and being driven by adherence to legislation and regulation such as the U.S. Gramm-Leach Bliley Act of 1999 (customer privacy requirements) and U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (corporate governance). Insurance and financial services firms need the ability to apply security to their communications infrastructure, safeguarding sensitive information and protecting valuable business assets.
Collaboration Support	Insurance and financial professionals need the ability to interact quickly and efficiently with clients, business partners, subject matter experts, and other associates. To facilitate this collaboration, firms require support for advanced communication applications such as videoconferencing, IP Communications, and other collaboration tools.
Transform the Way You Do Business	The new service model calls for engaging customers through a balanced blending of contact centers, Web, and voice self-serve applications. Many firms are finding the use of home-based call center agents to be more productive as well as providing a higher level of customer satisfaction.
Workforce Management	Increase operational efficiency with applications like online employee training and centralized labor scheduling, payroll processing etc.
Comply with Changing Industry Legislation	A robust secure network infrastructure provides an environment to meet the requirements of U.S. Gramm-Leach Bliley Act of 1999, The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act of 2002, U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and enables Retail Banks to comply with the US . Patriot Act of 2001 on anti-terrorism, including the protection of electronic communications and disaster recovery provisions.
Integrate, Share and Analyze Information	Enhance product and sales programs and better capitalize on experience using knowledge management systems. Integrate your back-office functions.
Streamline Operations	Simplify administration and reduce cost by unifying your infrastructure into a secure, converged communication network. Ensure that "best practices" are consistently executed across the entire organization. Create paperless processes and automated workflow to help reduce errors and streamline operations.
Workforce Management	Increase operational efficiency with applications like online employee training and centralized labor scheduling, payroll processing etc.
Reduce Operations Costs	Reduce travel-related expenses through use of videoconferencing and other Internet-based collaboration tools, especially for larger firms with multiple locations.
Non-stop Operations	Law firms and the legal staff depend on the network to effectively serve clients. To minimize unplanned network downtime, the infrastructure should be highly resilient.
Expand Your Business	Add new facilities quickly and easily via nationwide network coverage and rapid provisioning.

MegaPath's Insurance & Financial Sevices Experience