Bama Enables a Mobile-First Workplace with Aruba Wi-Fi, Switching and Integrated Security Solutions
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company (NYSE: HPE), today announced
that The Bama Companies, Inc. (“Bama”), a leading producer of baked
goods for the quick service restaurant and C-store industry in the U.S.
and 20 countries around the globe, is using Aruba’s wireless, switching
and security solutions to enable a mobile-first workplace that will
enhance employees’ working experiences while improving operational
productivity and overall efficiencies for the organization.
Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bama produces a wide variety of baked goods
for global quick service restaurant chains and C-stores located across
the United States. With four locations – three in Tulsa and one in
Poland, the company is upgrading its network infrastructure to meet the
increasing need for a more efficient and mobile workplace.
Bama’s previous wireless infrastructure didn’t provide sufficient
coverage and lacked the reliability the company needed for both its back
office and manufacturing plant connectivity, as well as allowing
employees – each of whom carry two to three devices – to conduct their
jobs effectively.
“Mobilizing our workforce is a key strategic initiative,” said Eric
Spille, Manager of Technical Services for Bama. “Without the right
infrastructure, we couldn’t deliver the performance and reliability
necessary for our employees to connect to the network easily or
securely, and there were areas of our plants like the freezers that
couldn’t be connected and monitored at all.”
Working with channel partner, SHI
of Somerset, New Jersey, and local Oklahoma-based network integrator, RFIP,
Bama deployed Aruba Access
Points and Mobility
Controllers with ArubaOS
8, Aruba network
switches, AirWave
for network management, and ClearPass
for secure employee, vendor and guest access, and upcoming IoT
initiatives.
With the Aruba solutions, Bama enabled pervasive coverage across its
U.S. offices and manufacturing plants – including its previously
excluded freezers – allowing employees to use a variety of mobile
devices, and connecting the 150 Motorola Symbol (now Zebra Technologies)
handheld and fork lift-mounted scanners the company uses for inventory
management. Bama’s Poland plant will be tied into the new network by the
end of 2018.
One of Bama’s primary objectives was delivering a better and more mobile
experience to employees, particularly for the frequent training and
safety courses they are required to complete. Previously, workers had to
go to a specific training room to complete these courses. The new Aruba
wireless network enables a dynamic, on-demand training environment in
which employees can use their mobile devices to complete their training
from any location.
According to Spille, the network has also been instrumental in helping
Bama introduce a new manufacturing line at one of its facilities, while
saving money in the process. Instead of having to run cable as they did
previously, Bama can now utilize the wireless network.
“The cost savings per drop are probably anywhere from $2,000-$3,000,”
Spille said. “We can save up to $18,000 just in cabling costs for one
line now that we have high-performing, reliable Wi-Fi.”
Spille noted that ClearPass was one of the key factors in Bama’s
decision to select Aruba. The IT team is using a “colorless port”
strategy wherein any port on Bama’s access switches can connect to any
device while ClearPass enforces appropriate role-based access. This
simplifies set-up and configuration and optimizes port utilization.
Users and devices will get access only to those resources and
applications they need and for which they are authorized.
With ClearPass, Bama can also offer secure, sponsor-based guest access
for partners and compliance officials, such as OSHA inspectors.
“I don’t think I’d even consider doing this without ClearPass,” Spille
commented. “It’s the foundation of all the security we’re putting in
place.”
Now that the new infrastructure has been installed, Bama is looking
ahead to Industrial IoT. Spille said that the IT team will keep most of
the manufacturing equipment on the wired network for now, but that there
are many devices and “things” that can now connect wirelessly. In
addition, Bama will evaluate some of the advanced automation features of
ArubaOS 8 such as Live Upgrade, and will investigate the SD-WAN
capabilities in Aruba’s solution.
Said Spille, “Before deploying Aruba, our wireless was a limiting
factor. But now that we have robust and reliable Wi-Fi, we are prepared
to address IoT and any other technology challenges that come our way.”
About Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, is a leading provider of
next-generation networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes
worldwide. The company delivers IT solutions that empower organizations
to serve the latest generation of mobile-savvy users who rely on
cloud-based business apps for every aspect of their work and personal
lives.
To learn more, visit Aruba at
http://www.arubanetworks.com
.
For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook,
and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products
visit Airheads Social at
http://community.arubanetworks.com
.
Pavel Radda
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
+1-408-419-0294
pavel.radda@hpe.com
OR
Kathleen Keith
Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company
+1-707-529-4507
kathleen.keith@hpe.com