Case Studies



Essex Auto Group
Working closely with Mark Riley, Financial Director, and Colin Roberts, IT Manager, APC Solutions has cemented a relationship with Essex Ford that has lasted for over five years. Essex Auto Group, which now has eight dealership locations, has managed to use the same network infrastructure, originally installed in 2006 by APC, without having to upgrade, install new software or seek out new technology.
The challenge
Essex Auto Group first called upon APC’s skills back in 2006 to link its original car dealerships allowing data to be transferred as well as providing an additional high speed gateway into Telehouse Data Centre in the London Docklands. This additional link, from Dunton Technical Centre (Ford’s European Design Centre), to Telehouse was required to integrate their advancing telephone system and provide a high speed internet connection.
Our solution
APC worked with telecoms partner DRD Communications to design, survey and deploy a wireless network using the Motorola PTP600 and PTP400 product range. The network was designed to provide an average of 100Mbs per dealership creating a high speed, resilient and flexible wireless network.
Due to the flexible nature of the network, when Essex Auto Group relocated its head office from Cherrydown in Basildon to Ford’s European Technical Centre in Dunton the process was seamless.
The result
Essex Auto Group has achieved a three year ROI compared to an alternative fixed line solution. However, ongoing past the three years, there was no further expenditure for the service. Alternative providers would charge as much as £200k per year ongoing to provide a similar service.
Mark Riley comments: “Even though our solution is now five years old we don’t need to upgrade the system. The technology has stayed ahead of its time and the service we have received from APC is second to none.”
Due to the excellent ongoing relationship between the two companies, APC was asked to install wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) hot spots for customers to access their emails, social network sites or work portals while their vehicles are being serviced, checked or MOT’ed. Allowing Essex Ford to offer its customers an excellent level of customer service and encouraging their customers to stay and look around the dealership or work while they wait.