Consumers expect a very quick stop when it’s time to fuel up at the local gas station. Most customers swipe a credit card, pump their gas, perhaps pick up a gallon of milk or a cup of coffee, and move on in a matter of minutes.
Those customers don’t think a lot about the network that keeps operations running behind the scenes—from credit and debit card authorizations, to tank-level monitoring, to inventory management. But nothing is more important to BP Products North America than the efficient operation of its 14,000 stations nationwide. To help speed its millions of customers on their way, BP is now deploying HughesNet™ Optimized Network service to connect its retail locations throughout the U.S. HughesNet Optimized Network service, part of the suite of Hughes Managed Network Services, is a fully managed broadband offering that creates a seamless network service by using the most efficient and cost-effective technology available at each site—whether satellite or terrestrial.
The flexible HughesNet Optimized Network service enables enterprises to optimize their networks based on cost, technology, or performance. At company-owned/company-operated (COCO) sites, BP is deploying satellite as the transport of choice. For branded marketer sites, the industry’s term for franchise holders, the company elected to deploy DSL where it is available. Overall, the oil giant expects to deploy DSL at up to 35 percent of its 14,000 stores, with the remainder satellite-based.
The HughesNet managed service provides BP with transport-level services at each station, hub operations, network management and proactive monitoring. The solution also includes installation, field maintenance, and ISP-class services.
“The HughesNet Optimized Network service provides BP retailers with the ability to expand beyond just credit and debit,” said Dan Rasmussen, senior director of marketing, North America, for Hughes. “BP retailers can not only run backoffice functions such as e-mail, inventory management, and tank-level monitoring, which help them to be more productive in running their stations. They can also expand into browser-based business applications and add new revenue-generating applications such as digital signage, branding, and music services.”
“BP has been a loyal Hughes customer for over 14 years, using our earlier thin-route PES system. Now, HughesNet Optimized Network service, with its blend of DSL and satellite, delivers BP a comprehensive, managed broadband capability from one trusted provider. Equally important, it is a flexible, reliable network that will facilitate a variety of new applications and initiatives for BP’s retail operations,” said Harry George, vice president of sales, North America, for Hughes. “The new network not only will help BP improve application performance, it will also create a more pleasant shopping experience—ultimately building customer loyalty.”
Implementation began in January 2006 and BP expects to have the network completely installed by summer 2007—helping to keep its operations in top form and speeding customers on their way.