NetCloud is also used to provide out-of-band access to key infrastructure elements within stores.

If a wired WAN service to a store fails, the Cradlepoint equipment falls back to 5G to run all store operations including point of sale systems, loyalty programs, stock control, and all back of house activities.

Coles selected the Cradlepoint W1850 and W2005 5G adapters, with Cradlepoint NetCloud Manager to simplify network management.

The Cradlepoint out-of-band management capabilities allows remote access for troubleshooting, avoiding the need for IT personnel to visit the store or distribution centre.

"The speed of connectivity, centralised management, agility, and out-of-band access that we're able to achieve with Cradlepoint 5G solutions across our stores and new distribution centres, ensures constant service delivery to our customers. We also have round the clock visibility into the status of our back-up links, which optimises maintenance effort for our technical teams," said Coles Group technology services and commercial general manager Chrissy Chu.

"The Cradlepoint solution is an integral part of our success in meeting our digital transformation objectives."

Cradlepoint senior vice president for Asia Pacific Nathan McGregor said "Reliable and agile network connectivity is fundamental for every aspect of retail operations today.

"Cradlepoint's NetCloud Service harnesses the power of 4G and 5G to not only connect everything inside stores, enhance customer experience, and maintain a competitive edge, but also provide a reliable safety net for retailers in the event of outage."