PORTLAND, Ore. -- WSCO Petroleum Inc., an independent convenience store and petroleum operator in Oregon and Washington, said it is abandoning dial-up telephone lines in almost 50 c-stores and gas stations in favor of a high-speed private network powered by New Edge Networks. Installation is underway, and the network should be operational by July 1.
With a high-speed private network, WSCO Petroleum will be able to automate many daily time-consuming manual tasks and business functions. Employees at each store will be freed to focus on activities that [image-nocss] will improve store appearance, sales and service, New Edge said.
We expect our high-speed managed network to give us an hour or two a day in labor savings, said Phil Boitz, director of management information systems for WSCO. Our network will allow our managers and employees to focus on important areas of our business and transform the in-store experience for customers while boosting our own productivity.
WSCO said it plans to use the private network for providing stores real-time access to its pricebook, checking inventory and implementing discounts or price changes. This speeds up daily reporting, eliminates paper faxes and improves accuracy, the tech firm said.
The private network also allows WSCO to reduce its credit card processing fees and process payment transactions within two to three seconds versus 15 to 20 seconds for dial-up at its unbranded locations. Payment transactions will move from the individual stores to a secure, dedicated direct connection that New Edge Networks maintains with WSCO's electronic payment processor, RBS Lynk.
Future uses of the network include VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) for reducing long-distance calling charges as well as remote video surveillance.
New Edge will install, maintain and monitor network performance for WSCO.
WSCO Petroleum is deploying a flexible managed network that will allow the company to scale and grow without necessarily adding IT network specialists, said Greg Griffiths, vice president of marketing for New Edge. The fundamental business changes that the network will enable for WSCO Petroleum should drive improvements to their bottom line and a favorable customer experience through more convenient and speedy service.
New Edge, Vancouver, Wash., is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLink Inc. It builds and manages private networks for businesses and communications providers. Through its nationwide backbone network with almost 900 switches and Internet routers, New Edge uses any blend of network and access technologies (MPLS, frame relay, ATM, xDSL, cable, wireless and satellite) for providing high-speed connections at any U.S. business address. Network options include any combination of access, network management functions and onsite installation services.
In addition to 12 unbranded locations, Portland, Ore.-based WSCO Petroleum operates 36 other c-stores and gas stations under brands including Shell, Chevron, Texaco, Exxon, Mobil and ConocoPhillips.
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