GameStop, one of the world’s largest specialist PC and video game retailers, is to install a private broadband network at its 28 branches in the Republic. The ISP Strencom has won the four-year contract, which is valued at €150,000.
GameStop’s European headquarters and Irish head office is located at Swords, Co Dublin and under the new infrastructure the company has access to all transactions as they occur, giving the company a real-time view of stock, point of sale and cash register information for each shop. The company employs 270 people in Ireland.
The new system streamlines GameStop’s stock-control and accounts systems, enabling cost-effective, immediate access to stock, accounts and marketing information across all outlets. Strencom secured the deal to supply and manage the network against competition from other providers, the company said.
As new outlets are established, they can be easily and securely linked into this Private ADSL high-speed wide area network via existing telephone lines.
Soon, GameStop plans to run VoIP (voice over internet protocol) on its network, which will further reduce telecoms costs internally. Calls between branches will be free of charge and the company can avail of reduced rates to external lines. It also means that the head office receives only one telephone bill, covering all branches, instead of 28 separate bills.
When this goes live, GameStop expects to save an estimated 30pc, as against current internet and phone charges.
Sankar Nayar, IT manager for GameStop, said: “Strencom has taken over the day-to-day monitoring of the network between our branches, freeing the IT department to attend to our core needs. Integration of the systems has meant significant savings for GameStop, further enabling us to compete effectively in the marketplace.” He added that system issues can now be solved remotely, saving time and money.
Strencom managing director Tim Murphy added: “We have been able to provide strict service level agreements that will help it to guarantee highest service levels for customers and branch employees,” he said.
By Gordon Smith
