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Midwest Manufacturer Transforms Connectivity with an SD-WAN Upgrade

An SD-WAN solution connecting a manufacturing plant.

A Midwest based manufacturer needed to upgrade their SD-wan solution. With over 20 locations extending across the United States, they were experiencing connectivity challenges as they expanded their operations.  

The Challenge

When WIN first partnered with the client years ago, we implemented an SD-WAN solution in a way that met their requirements. We began with eight sites, but this number soon grew to over 20 locations, causing some of the SD-WAN sites to show signs of strain. Different locations experienced various connectivity issues, leading to disruptions that would affect their warehouse and shipping operations. These disruptions not only risked customer satisfaction but also posed a threat to revenue, as any downtime at a major distribution hub can cost the company upwards of $2,000 per minute.   

A Tailored SD-WAN Solution

Our team collaborated with the client to understand their requirements and the specific challenges they faced at different locations. Together, we identified gaps in their current setup and developed a comprehensive reference architecture to address these issues. The key objectives were to ensure continuous connectivity, add redundancies, and establish a disaster recovery plan to protect against hardware failures. 

Our Upgraded SD-WAN Solution Included:

  • Redundant Connections: We provided redundant connections at strategic locations to prevent any single point of failure.
  • High Availability (HA) Configurations: For more critical locations, we implemented multiple devices to ensure high availability.
  • Disaster Recovery: All locations were designed to bypass the SD-WAN routers if needed.
  • Faster Connectivity: We upgraded the bandwidth and deployed faster devices to meet the growing demands of the client’s operations.

A Positive Outcome

The client has expressed their satisfaction with the upgraded SD-WAN solution, noting substantial improvement in performance across various locations. The collaborative approach and the tailored reference architecture have provided them with a scalable and reliable network infrastructure that supports their continued growth. 

Overview

Benefits to the Client

Increased Redundancy

With redundant connections, the risk of downtime is significantly reduced. 

Risk Mitigation

The disaster recovery plan ensures that hardware failures do not disrupt their operations. 

Protected Revenue

By preventing downtime, the company has safeguarded its revenue, avoiding potential financial losses.