Home Bargains and Evolve Business Group Partner to Bring Secure and Resilient Network Solutions to Over 650 UK Stores
Home Bargains, a major discount retailer founded in Liverpool in 1976, has announced a partnership with leading managed network solutions provider Evolve Business Group. The partnership aims to enhance the retailer’s network infrastructure and support its continued growth with simplified and strengthened connectivity.
The partnership has already seen 50 stores across the UK equipped with resilient and secure payments and connectivity, with plans to roll out the solution to the remaining 600+ stores in the near future.
Home Bargains is well-known for its “Top Brands, Bottom Prices” business model and commitment to value. The collaboration with Evolve will consolidate multiple legacy networks, including those used for payments and CCTV, into a single point of contact. This will simplify the management and maintenance of the network, ultimately improving reliability and reducing resolution times for any issues.
The new network has been designed to ensure maximum uptime, with diverse connections implemented in each store and automatic failover in case of any disruptions. Additionally, Evolve has established highly secure connections to payment data centers and gift card hosts, ensuring full PCI compliance.
Tony Mullen, Head of IT Infrastructure and Services at Home Bargains, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “Having started more than 40 years ago in Liverpool, our customers continue to be at the heart of everything we do. We now serve more than seven million people each week and plan to grow our portfolio to 1,000 stores throughout the UK, opening around 50 new stores a year.”
Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve Business Group, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “Home Bargains is a much-loved British brand that has remained true to its roots while achieving incredible growth. As another fast-growing North West business, we’re proud to support that success with a secure, reliable and efficient network designed exactly to their needs.”
Evolve’s long-standing Platinum partnership with hardware provider Mako Networks has also allowed for several bespoke elements to be implemented for Home Bargains, ensuring the network remains fast, compliant, and future-proof with technologies such as fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) connectivity. The partnership also includes automatic updates to firewall rules and configurations, enabling new features to be rolled out instantly without any additional administration.
With a fully staffed 24/7/365 technical support desk, Evolve is dedicated to providing personalized support and innovative technology to its customers, enabling them to grow with confidence. As a fast-growing North West business, Evolve is proud to support Home Bargains’ success and looks forward to continuing the partnership as the retailer expands its portfolio to 1,000 stores.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.