Networks and communications, especially in lower tier regions, can bring a list of challenges to international retailers who want to expand their business in the ever-growing Chinese market. Without even considering the numerous challenges from network configuration in store to technical support across the third largest country in the world, the biggest question retailers commonly have is: "how can the network here be linked to the overseas headquarters?" Gary Hui, product manager from China Telecom (Hong Kong) International Ltd, talks to Retail in Asia about these IT challenges. He also introduces China Telecom’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution, explaining how this solution can solve retailers’ problems.
RIA: What are the major communications challenges for retailers in China? What can they do to cope with these challenges?
Gary Hui (GH): Today, many international retail giants are taking steps to enter the market in China. In terms of network and communications, their first question is usually which service provider can provide a network that can reach their point of sales – as in China, not every service provider runs a network that has strong coverage. Some service providers’ network may not be able to reach some buildings; some may not be authorised to provide service in some regions. International retailers may also hope to have their network linked to their overseas headquarters. Choosing a network that can meet all their needs is challenging for retailers.
Apart from coverage, service quality is also a big issue here. Therefore, a strong integrated network solution provided by a quality service provider will help them cope with these challenges with ease.
RIA: As a network service provider, what is the competitive edge for China Telecom in this area?
GH: China Telecom’s IP network covers more than 90 percent of cities across the country, with a strong monopoly in the southern part of China. Virtually, no information travels in and out of China without passing through our infrastructure. This is the reason for the wide coverage of our MPLS VPN solution. The solution can provide the security and reliability that can meet the international standards, as well as retailers’ requirements. With our team of 600,000 technical support specialists, we can provide quick support to retailers’ stores in almost all cities across the country.
One false impression about China Telecom is that its network covers China only – it is not true. Our headquarters, which is based in China, is well linked with our overseas offices in Asia-Pacific, America and Europe. We have worldwide land-sea cable resources, allowing us to provide global networking solutions of high-quality and high efficiency through IPLC, IEPL, MPLS VPN and other means.
RIA: Can you tell us more about the VPN Solution for Retail Businesses?
GH: China Telecom’s MPLS-VPN Solution for Retail Businesses is a one-stop-shop solution tailor-made for retailers. VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, is a network that uses telecommunication infrastructure for individual users with secure access to their organisation’s network. In other words, VPN is a close, highly-secured but expendable network for organisations. In which, organisations can deploy their customised applications.
With its strong infrastructure and network coverage across China, as well as its unmatched global network capacity, China Telecom’s VPN solution is particularly useful for international retailers who want to set up their business throughout China. The service covers more than 312 cities on the mainland. From LAN network setup to technical support, our project managers will dedicatedly follow up with clients and help them to resolve all the problems.
One feature for the VPN solution is the 24/7 network monitoring, which provides pro-active fault notification to clients, helping them save time and costs. Another feature, as mentioned earlier, is our team of 600,000 specialists across the country, which ensures our clients to receive quick solutions for their networking problems. Furthermore, the high quality MPLS VPNs provide greater flexibility when deploying connections between business operations, allowing high quality deployment of storefront monitoring, video and telephone conferencing, etc.
RIA: What are some of VPN Solution’s practical business applications?
GH: With its strong coverage, flexibility and reliability, China Telecom’s VPN solution allows retailers to deploy their customised applications, for instance, stock tracking and data transmitting between points of sales, warehouses and offices within and outside the country; video conferencing between headquarters and points of sales; delivering content to digital media in stores; and storefront monitoring.
RIA: How do retailers benefit from the solution? How does the solution address retailers’ needs?
GH: As mentioned earlier, what international retailers usually need is just one integrated solution. Therefore, we’ve designed the VPN Solution with a one-stop-shop concept to cater for retailers’ needs. VPN solution helps retailers develop their network on a project basis. It means, China Telecom will take care of the whole project – from LAN set up, integration, network monitoring to network support. It is time and cost effective, cutting down time and costs for the operations. What IT managers now need to do is just monitor the 24-hour real time panel, overseeing the network and identifying problems according to the red and green spots. Retailers can then focus more on store development and expansion.
China Telecom Group is an oversize national communication enterprise in China. It is the global partner with Shanghai Expo. It has been one of the top 500 enterprises for many years. Its main business includes fixed telephones, mobile communication, satellite communication, internet access and application, etc, to offer integrated information services.
For more information about this company, visit China Telecom.
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Taking Stock is Retail in Asia’s column dedicated to showcasing opinions and providing advice from experts in the retail industry.