Case Studies

Click here to download At Evolve, we pride ourselves on cultivating a company culture where people are our greatest asset. That’s why we recently renewed our commitment to nurturing new talent by exceeding our 5% Club pledge, with 9.24% of Evolve’s employees enrolled in apprenticeship programmes in 2024. To look back at his journey and what his apprenticeship did for him, we sat down with Sam Bradshaw, IT Second Line Support Manager, to tell us about his experience with us. How I came to Evolve… Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the rapid development of computer technology and its impact on people’s lives. I have actively followed its progression and enjoyed solving technical issues for my family at home. This passion led me to pursue an A Level in IT alongside Sociology and History in high school, further deepening my understanding of technology and its broader societal effects. After following the traditional path through high school and A Levels, I realised I was ready to move beyond the classroom and apply my skills in a real-world setting. Although I received an unconditional offer for a place at the University of Nottingham, I recognised that an apprenticeship would give me the best of both worlds, combining the aspects of learning I enjoyed with the practical experience I wanted. After I finished college, I looked online and took my time to find an apprenticeship that was right for me. The apprenticeship at Evolve was a trainer-led course, which was a big draw for me. It meant that each module I would spend a week on a training course (roughly every 6-8 weeks), which involved spending 6-8 hours a day from Monday to Thursday on-site and learning the skills, and then taking an exam on the Friday. This format was the most helpful for me as a learner, and it meant that I got the most out of my apprenticeship. Apprentice life…  Back when I was an apprentice, my hours were usually 8am-5pm, with an hour or so a day to do coursework, and of course the occasional week at a training course. A typical day would involve me working with more senior people to learn the technical elements of the job while also gathering information and evidence for my apprenticeship coursework to prove that I was learning all the relevant skills. I always felt that I had the time, space and support I needed at Evolve to meet the targets of my apprenticeship. In terms of what I learnt from my apprenticeship, the top thing would be the technical IT skills. The soft skills I learnt, such as effective communication and personal confidence, were invaluable – they’re not something you learn at school, and I will always be grateful that I learnt so many of these in my apprenticeship to prepare me for the workforce. I was one of the first-ever apprentices at Evolve, and we have since had numerous other apprentices coming through the business, which has been a big benefit to us all. I completed my Level 3 IT Apprenticeship within 18 months and went straight on to complete my Level 4 IT Apprenticeship within 18 months as well. This meant that in just 3 years I was completely qualified to take on a full-time role in IT, and this was a big accomplishment for me. It also led to me being offered the full-time role at Evolve, and I’m still here today! Life after apprenticeship… As an IT Second Line Support Manager, my role nowadays combines technical and team management skills – I manage six people in my team as well as respond to technical issues. IT is an accelerated industry. The way we use IT and the technologies that it uses (like AI) are changing all the time, so the way we support it as IT engineers changes all the time too. This rapid change is really exciting and keeps us on our toes, and it’s what I love most about the job I do. A highlight for me since starting my career with Evolve was when one of our largest customers came to us with a requirement for delivering over 1000 devices, including tablets, laptops and phones. This involved setting them up and then going to sites across the country so that our engineers could ensure they were delivered and installed correctly. It was a very rewarding project as we got really positive feedback from the customer that everything had been delivered extremely well without it impacting any normal service levels. In the next five years, I hope to progress in my current career route and stay in roles that involve both technical and management skills. I’m certain that my apprenticeship helped my long-term career goals in a way that I couldn’t have done at university. I have the practical, technical and communication skills that are enabling me to progress much quicker in my career, and an added bonus is not having to pay university fees!

Click here to download At Evolve, we pride ourselves on cultivating a company culture where people are our greatest asset. That’s why we recently renewed our commitment to nurturing new talent by exceeding our 5% Club pledge, with 9.24% of Evolve’s employees enrolled in apprenticeship programmes in 2024. To shine a light on what an apprenticeship at Evolve looks like, we sat down with Tyler Lowe, Apprentice First Line Engineer, to tell us about his experience with us. How I came to Evolve… I’ve always had a logical and creative mind, and in fact, when I was younger, I wanted to get into the game industry. This led me to the University of Bradford, where I studied game design and development. After leaving university, I looked into various ways of getting into the industry and hoped to get a role as a Junior Game Developer or Junior Software Developer. Unfortunately for me, a lot of the big game companies at the time were laying off their staff and not taking on new people, so I quickly realised there was no opportunity for me to progress in that career path. At this point I took a step back and re-evaluated what my options were. I looked at what aspects of my university course I enjoyed and was best at and decided to look for an alternative career option that would enable me to use my problem-solving and technology skills while also having a clear path of progression. This led me to Baltic Apprenticeships, the largest independent training provider in England, who work with Evolve to offer a range of apprenticeships. I got in touch and told them that I was interested in a role that covered both IT support and programming elements, and they directed me to Evolve. Apprentice life… As an Apprentice First Line Engineer, my job is basically to deal with the initial IT problem presented by the customer, ask questions and decide what the best course of action is to get the problem solved as quickly as possible. A typical day for me means coming into the office, sitting with my team of engineers, and learning from them based on the work that they do. I often watch my manager deal with an incoming IT ticket and then go away to practice that type of ticket by myself to ensure I’ve learnt it properly. My apprenticeship will last for around a year in total and started with two weeks of shadowing a colleague, learning the work they do and the IT tickets they get. I asked a lot of questions and eventually moved on to individual tasks where I used my own initiative and built my confidence – with proper management oversight, of course! As the weeks went on, the scheme gradually progressed to enable me to take on more tasks as I grew in confidence and knowledge. The biggest challenge for me has been that everything in the role is new – but that also makes it fun and exciting. I’ve even had the chance to experience some really interesting projects and visit some cool places: we had a one-off project for a longterm customer that involved me going to America with the network team to stage, build and package a new network of over 300 items. This was one of the highlights of my apprenticeship so far, and I really learned in detail how the network team works and how it complements the IT team that I work in. What I’ve learned… During my first couple of weeks at Evolve, I was very nervous to answer any of the many calls we get as first line IT engineers. My team supported me to slowly take on one or two calls to learn the ropes and help build my confidence, initially passing callers on to relevant team members and eventually being able to deal with the problem on the phone myself. Not long after this, I was recognised as the person with the greatest number of calls answered at Evolve, which was huge progress for me. Overall, my apprenticeship at Evolve has helped me to develop the skills and confidence I need to set me on a positive path for the future. In a relatively short space of time, I have become one of the most knowledgeable people in my area, and people now come straight to me with questions about it. It’s a great feeling to know how far I’ve come since my first day as an apprentice. I believe that my role is so enjoyable because I talk to real people every day and help them to solve a problem – Evolve is a people business, and that really shines through. It’s been an interesting experience for me, especially being 25 and older than many of the other apprentices, but it has taught me that you can come to an apprenticeship at any point in life, and it will always be an opportunity to learn new skills and get on a new career path. What the future holds… After university, I felt like I had been dropped with no real guidance on how to progress a career and secure a good role. Since being at Evolve, I’ve become confident that I have an abundance of choice in my future and that the next five years of my career will be great. My manager is a constant support for me in this, as she is always helping me to think ahead and understand what all my options are. The whole Evolve team has reassured me that I can explore what is best for me, ensure that I am on the right path, and that I will be supported to get there. If anyone reading this is interested in doing an apprenticeship in IT, or any other apprenticeship at Evolve, I would say go for it. It’s a lot easier to get started in an apprenticeship than you may think – you don’t need to have all the answers straight away; you are being taught

Fueling Asda’s Business Growth Supermarket giant Asda moved one step closer to its goal of replacing Sainsbury’s as the second-largest grocer in Britain when it purchased 350 petrol forecourts and 1,000 restaurants in the UK and Ireland from its sister company, EG Group Overview The fuel forecourt sector is a highly competitive one, and ever-evolving technology is helping businesses secure the edge, with big brands beginning to recognise the power behind digital transformation and its positive impacts in meeting the demands of customers. One of the most critical aspects of technology for fuel forecourts is connectivity. With nearly two decades of extensive experience and expertise in the forecourt sector, the Evolve team was chosen by Asda to provide network solutions for its newly acquired assets. The Problem In October 2022, Leeds-based supermarket giant Asda completed a £600 million deal to buy 116 sites from Manchester-headquartered Co-op’s petrol forecourt business. However, the ability to deliver a seamless, efficient, and convenient user experience, where consumers can access a broader range of products and services, relies on having the right technology with the right managed connectivity services. Fully managed network solutions, including SD-WAN, connectivity, and guest Wi-Fi, are essential for businesses in the forecourt sector to operate efficiently, avoid costly downtime, and deliver a seamless customer experience. This is where Evolve was able to help. The Solution Before starting implementation of the project, Evolve worked closely with Asda for around six months to conduct thorough health checks to optimise configuration and piece together a comprehensive design plan, ensuring that even the smallest detail was accounted for. During this time, Evolve was able to establish a strong working relationship with Asda, and demonstrating its efficiency and reliability. A key challenge facing the team was that each of the new sites requiring connectivity faced time constraints, meaning it was imperative for Evolve’s in-house engineering and development teams to tailor the connectivity solution to fit the deadline. Evolve understands the dynamic nature of the market and the importance of keeping pace with its customers, so always works to deliver solutions ahead of deadlines. Working at speed, the Evolve team supplied a secure network that supports fuel and store sales, third-party services and provides guest Wi-Fi. The new tech stack was specifically designed with point-of-sale, and all other connectivity-dependent elements in mind. The resulting connectivity package was branded ‘Asda Express’. The early stages of the deployment involved rolling out the security gateway device, powered by Mako Networks, ensuring each of the sites remained secure and PCI DSS Level 1 compliant at all times. Evolve’s security gateway devices utilise SD-WAN technology, providing Asda with maximised uptime through 4G/5G failover. Due to the transition of communications and circuits being connected, the sites were set up to run on 4G/5G to ensure they remained operational, avoiding costly downtime. Temporary communications for installations were also used at the beginning of the project, and overnight installations were carried out to minimise disruption to operations. This was only possible thanks to Evolve’s 24x7x365 Network Operations Centre (NOC), which is fully manned at all times. Evolve was able to give time back to Asda and allow the retailer to focus on what it does best by managing the entire project from start to finish. The Benefits Fully managed network solutions provide reliable and fast connectivity to customers, allowing them to stay connected and engaged while spending time at the forecourt. Evolve’s solution will enable Asda to operate more efficiently while streamlining operations and reducing downtime. By investing in fully managed network solutions, Asda forecourts can now also collect valuable data and analytics, allowing them to make more informed decisions and tailor their offerings to meet customer expectations. Being able to install the solution remotely and during the night means the business incurred minimal downtime, while our highly proactive around-the-clock customer support ensured any problems were detected and resolved quickly. Evolve combines best-in-class security and compliance offerings with in-house developed solutions that make technology work for your business and has a dedicated team ready to detect and solve any issues before they become a problem. We specialise in network solutions for forecourts, including fuel stations and convenience stores. Our managed network services help our customers optimise their supply chain management, logistics, and store operations, leading to improved profitability and customer satisfaction. Contact Evolve for more information at info@evolvebg.co.uk

Download PDF Version Evolve’s SD-WAN Enables EG Group to streamline Global Network Management EG Group is a leading independent fuel station and convenience retailer with operations in over 6,000 sites across 10 countries. As a global organisation, EG Group requires a robust and reliable network infrastructure to support its business operations. To achieve this, EG Group relies on Evolve, a UK-based managed service provider, as one of their key global suppliers. The Solution Evolve’s partnerships with over 60 ISPs worldwide enable EG Group to simplify their network management by placing communication orders with one company, without the need to deal with individual in-country ISPs for troubleshooting or billing. Evolve’s SD-WAN delivers a single view of EG Group’s global network, enabling easy management and deployment of network service integration for payments and loyalty across all their business sectors, such as fuel, food-to-go, and more. Evolve’s SD-WAN solution has enabled EG Group to achieve several benefits, including: Streamlined network management, reducing complexity and improving efficiency. Single point of contact for communication orders, troubleshooting, and billing. A single view of their global network, enabling EG Group to simplify management and troubleshooting. Reliable and robust network infrastructure, supporting their business operations across multiple countries. The Conclusion Evolve’s SD-WAN solution has enabled EG Group to streamline its global network management and achieve its business objectives. With a reliable and robust network infrastructure in place, EG Group is well-positioned to continue its growth and expansion in the highly competitive fuel and convenience retail market. Evolve’s partnerships with over 60 ISPs worldwide and their SD-WAN solution demonstrate their commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and support to their customers. Kevin Patterson Chief Technology Officer ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ “We’re delighted with the ongoing results. Not only are they reactive, but thanks to their proactive attitude, difficulties are frequently fixed before we are even aware of a potential problem. The people at Evolve are dependable and genuinely interested in supporting our business. We view the team at Evolve as an extension of our company, being able to rely on them has been crucial to our success. We see them as unparalleled in terms of their expertise and approach to customer service.”

Download PDF Version Freightlink Ferry and Tunnel Ticketing Agent Freightlink is a leading Freight Ferry and Tunnel Ticket agent. They provide more than 1000 routes in over 50 countries for couriers, hauliers, manufacturers and many other businesses of various sizes. Evolve and Freightlink have established a valuable partnership, with Freightlink having been a loyal customer for over 10 years. In recent times, Evolve conducted an infrastructure review of Freightlink’s current IT setup. Evolve recognised the business’s growth in the past few years and the necessity for scalability and remote work capabilities across the business. The key challenge at hand was to identify the optimal IT solution to meet Freightlink’s evolving needs. The Solution As a result of the long-standing relationship between Evolve and Freightlink, Evolve’s IT department already has a vast understanding of the business and its needs for IT set-ups. Both businesses began to collaborate closely to find the optimal solution for scalability and remote working capabilities that would also work for the future of the business. After an in-depth analysis, EvolveIT presented two viable options, which included: The first option was to perform an on-site physical server upgrade, which involved enhancing their existing physical server infrastructure. The second option was to opt for a more cloud-based solution and migrate to a cloud-based setup. The goal for Evolve was to identify the most suitable IT solution that aligned with Freightlink’s growth trajectory. The Outcome After working with Pace to find the perfect solution for Freightlink, Evolve determined that a cloud-based solution was the best choice for the customer. Evolve proceeded to implement a Microsoft Azure server and an M365 Intune environment, which brought several benefits to the customer. Microsoft Azure provides robust security features, including safeguarding data and applications. As a result of the cloud-based solution, Freightlink benefited from advanced, seamless, and quick scalability. The customer also benefits from remote accessibility; with the power of Azure and M365 Intune, employees can work from multiple locations, which allows them to embrace flexibility. A further advantage of the cloud-based solution is reduced maintenance; cloud solutions minimise the need for on-site server maintenance. Evolve’s IT Support solution is built on security; it is at the heart of everything we do, so ensuring Freightlink’s whole IT infrastructure was secure was paramount to the success of this project. Overall, this transition to a cloud-based solution ensures a more efficient and adaptable IT infrastructure for Feightlink. Since the project concluded, IT Support has seen a reduction in tickets being logged by the organisation, seeing tickets logged each month reduce by 33%

Download PDF Version Hydes Brewery Hydes is an award- winning independent family pub, retailer and brewer. Founded in 1863, it has remained an independent brewery in the Northwest of England and North Wales ever since. Like Evolve, the brewery is based in the North of England, and we have worked with Hydes for almost a decade, supporting all its connectivity needs from point-of-sale and printers to CCTV and Guest Wi-Fi. Evolve’s SD-WAN solution has been instrumental in helping the business meet PCI compliance requirements, so when those requirements stepped up a gear, we were on hand to help. The Problem The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) exists to help keep sensitive financial information safe from theft, hacking, and other security threats. All merchants that process, transmit, or store card holder data must be compliant. As a Mako platinum partner, we provide Hydes with our customised SD-WAN solution that boasts PCI Level 1 certification for payment security, and until recently, the business was able to complete a PCI self-assessment form to remain compliant. However, recent increases in payment card turnover meant an external audit was required, with a PCI assessor visiting sites to gather evidence that both Hydes and its third-party suppliers are PCI compliant. It would require not only additional resources but valuable hours for Hydes to gain external certification. The Solution Early in 2024, Evolve stepped in to oversee the entire external certification process. From working directly with Hydes POS provider and ensuring they have the right certification, to supporting site visits in-person, Evolve was able to complete the assessment on behalf of Hydes. Although the process required extensive up-front work to prepare for the assessment questions and documentation requirements, this has ultimately proved a time-saving exercise for Hydes. Not only did it negate the need for in-house resource to be tied up by the process, but thanks to Evolves long-standing relationship with Hydes, extensive knowledge of the PCI process and customisable boilerplates, Evolve was able to reduce the length of the process significantly. Thanks to the expertise of the Evolve team, all the required documents and evidence of policies was gathered with minimal input from Hydes, and the business has now achieved external PCI certification. The Benefits Evolve’s help in ensuring Hydes is fully PCI compliant has ensured the protection of card holder data, reduced the risk of data breaches, and safeguarded the business’s reputation. But working with the Evolve team has also brought a range of additional benefits. Our 24/7/365 fully-manned network operations centre makes us the number one choice for the hospitality sector, which often operates outside core hours and needs round-the-clock trouble-shooting support. And because we work with a number of big-name hospitality brands, we understand the needs and challenges of the sector and its wider eco-system. Our managed network solution provides a complete and end-to-end network infrastructure, including hardware, software, as well as ongoing support. It gives all our hospitality clients a consistent and secure internet connection, regardless of the size and complexity of their property. For merchants to thrive in what are very challenging times, it’s vital they remain PCI compliant. We provide customised solutions with PCI Level 1 certification for payment security as a Mako Network platinum partner – the only network management company in the world to qualify as a PCI-certified Level 1 service provider. Thanks to the success of Hyde’s external PCI certification, we are now ideally positioned to help more businesses who are moving to external assessment. “Thanks to the expertise and dedicated support of Evolve, our journey towards PCI compliance was smooth and successful. Their team navigated the complexities of PCI standards with ease, providing tailored solutions that fit our specific needs. From meticulous assessments to the implementation of robust security measures, Evolve ensured that every aspect of our operations met the stringent PCI requirements. Their ongoing monitoring and support have been invaluable, keeping us informed and proactive in maintaining compliance. With their assistance, we’ve not only achieved PCI compliance but also strengthened our reputation as a secure and trustworthy pub chain. I highly recommend Evolve to any organisation seeking reliable guidance and support on their path to PCI compliance through SD-WAN.” Simon Mollitt Finance Director at Hydes Brewery

Download PDF Version Evolve Evolve was created in 2005 to help multi-site brands unleash their potential with guest Wi-Fi at the forefront of its offering. Today, we keep a range of cross-sector networks – from retail, food-to-go, hospitality, transport, forecourts, construction, property, and smart cities – protected and connected. In 2012 Evolve began deploying the Mako Networks system, which has end-to-end PCI certification, and is proud to be the sole Platinum Partner of Mako Networks and their sole distributor outside of the US. In addition to the many carrier relationships we have built over the years, Evolve has also invested heavily in integrating to third party operators and service providers. The next step was to bridge the gap between customers and third-party enterprises. The Evolve team understood this would require a more integrated pathway and knew they could create a solution with improved security, speed, and simplicity. Data Centre Integrations Building relationships, identifying pain points, and responding with solutions quickly have always been core to the Evolve philosophy. Integrating with a third-party data centre, whether it belongs to a parent company or a partner, inevitably means supporting services to a business’s most sensitive information and vital technologies. While there is plenty of technical know-how involved with Evolve’s integrations, trust is the vital part of the puzzle that helps us offer customers the hassle-free experience we are known for. While the majority of third parties would not usually allow external companies into their data centres, Evolve is trusted by more than 60 gateways, hosts and platforms to work directly within their data centres. Where does the tech come into the picture? Adding the Mako solution to a third-party data centre means Evolve is able to control the whole process and keep up to date in real time with any actions or changes, allowing them to react with pace. Having such visibility ensures trouble shooting is done with ease, and Evolve is able to provide advanced diagnostics for the customer. How does it work? By adding the Mako solution to a third party’s data centre, Evolve extended its Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) into the business. This is a new, faster and more secure way for businesses to manage connections between their different locations, such as offices, data centres, and remote workers. SD-WAN offers greater reliability, and costs less in hardware and software than the older WAN offerings in the market. Optimised network traffic Evolve combines SD-WAN technology with an enhanced service and support package, supporting broadband and LTE connections with dynamic routing for optimised network traffic. This enables each of our customers’ sites to connect directly to the SD-WAN kit at each third-party data centre, keeping operations smooth and secure, while cutting out any complicated routing that could slow down processes. Our carrier relationships help reduce downtime, too, and all this is backed up by a proactive 24/7 x 365 multilingual support desk team. Proactively managing networks Integrating with third parties allows Evolve to centralise the entire process and keep up to date in real time with any actions or changes, meaning we can proactively manage our customers’ extensive networks. Having this visibility ensures any troubleshooting is completed with ease, and we can provide advanced diagnostics for the customer. Innovative approach Evolve’s problem-solving and innovative approach sets it apart. For example, in Italy, the Evolve team found that infrastructure was not suitable for standard third-party integration, or installing equipment in the third parties’ data centre was not possible. Overcoming this setback was vital, and time was of the essence. As our talented development team works extremely closely with Mako technology, it was possible to produce a ground-breaking solution. By creating a “virtual Mako”, utilising the Cloud, Evolve was able to work around the complexities presented and ensure the business still received a best-in-class service – without having to pay for costly infrastructure upgrades. These ‘ah-ha’ moments, when a combination of dedication, curiosity and smart tech comes together to remove a business headache, make Evolve what it is today. The benefits What this all adds up to for Evolve’s customers is seamless integration; a one-stop-shop for secure network management that is fit for purpose for even the largest multi-site brands. As the solution means going directly to third parties with any issues detected or general communications, customers save time as well as benefiting from enhanced security and speed. There’s no need for the Evolve team to call customers to raise alarm bells around confusing technical issues. Instead, they call them to let them know an issue was detected and resolved. As well as our PCI solution through Mako providing world-leading security and compliance benefits, our approach of creating ‘tunnels’ to third-party data centres makes the process even more secure, ensuring that only relevant parties are ever able to access information. Some examples of third-party integrations include: TNS Evolve has connected to this connectivity and infrastructure-as-a-service leader, allowing seamless connectivity to over 250 different payment hosts across the world. HTEC Evolve has extended its network into this global consulting, engineering and product development company in order to route card payment traffic for fuel sites. Woolworths Group Evolve expanded the SDWAN directly to Woolworth Group’s data centres to allow payment processing from fuel sites in Australia. Titan Cloud Software Using the vMako technology, we have interfaced to Titan Cloud to support reporting and monitoring of fuel tanks across the US. TSG Evolve interface to TSG’s key European Data Centers to allow customers direct access from sites to payment and other critical site services. Looking forward Evolve combines best-in-class security and compliance offerings with in-house developed solutions that make technology work for your business, and has a dedicated team ready to detect and solve any issues before they become a problem. Contact Evolve for more information: info@evolvebg.co.uk or https://www.evolvebg.co.uk/

Download PDF Version Ascona Group & Evolve Evolve puts the pedal to the metal for forecourt operator Ascona Group. Fast-Growing Ascona Group was challenged by chaotic network infrastructure until it appointed Evolve. Here, it reveals the success it has enjoyed following the implementation of our pioneering 24/7 managed network solution. Roadside retail specialist Ascona Group, which has anetwork of 61 fuel forecourts across the UK, needed a dedicated partner capable of keeping up the pace when it underwent a period of rapid expansion. As Ascona Group Reached new heights, its network was letting it down. That’s when Evolve stepped in, a team with decades of experience in supporting multi-site operators and franchisees unleash their potential through networktechnologies. The Challenge. Ascona Group has grown rapidly in recent years following a simple formula: to identify ‘forecourt assets’ in the mid-market space. These are typically under independent or family ownership, and develop these forecourts into world class roadside retail destinations.  This growth meant Ascona Group acquired a mix of telephony systems, network providers and technologies across the estate. It also experienced difficulties in the management and maintenance , from both a billing point of view and in terms of troubleshooting downtime. Working swiftly, our team designed and installed a secure network that supports fuel and shop sales, and provides guest Wi-Fi and third party services. We linked the Ascona Group estate via secure Wi-Fi to a secure high-speed internet connection with cellular failover, which allows devices to switch between different wireless carriers for improved redundancy, while keeping costs under control. As part of the rapid setup, Ascona Group was then connected to Evolve’s in-house 24/7 manned helpdesk that takes the time to understand the setup of the estate and proactively monitor the network. Evolve’s team doesn’t wait for the problem to occur – it works to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. Results : A platform that supports growth. Steve Townley, ICT Manager at Ascona Group, said, “For example, guests at our Firehouse Restaurant experienced poor internet speeds and problems with payment process. We were losing revenue. We found that customer satisfaction was dwindling. We pride ourselves on our relentless focus on improving the experience for everyone that visits us, so we urgently needed a specialist partner.” In 2012, we began deploying the Mako Networks system, which has end-to-end PCI certification – and we are the sole Platinum Partner of Mako Networks. Then, in 2013, Directors Alan Stephenson-Brown and Ryan Stephenson-Brown, father, and son, joined the team. This propelled our evolution to new heights. With a great team at the helm and industry-leading solutions to offer, between 2013 and 2017 we turned our focus to developing our enhanced customer support offering. By taking a complex and disorderly network and streamlining it into a managed solution with customer service at its heart, Evolve has transformed Ascona Group’s greatest tech headache into an opportunity for solidifying and maximising its growth. “Any modern business absolutely requires an intense amount of connectivity and security. Evolve makes a complex solution simple. Its ease of use, exceptional service wrap and great people have allowed us to not only stay current but go above and beyond what our customers expect to see at our forecourts. It’s also allowed us to remain secure while taking payments and help give our customers a fantastic experience of visiting us via our free guest WI-FI.”  Ascona Spokesperson Thanks to Evolve’s world-leading network technologies and dedicated services, Ascona Group has enjoyed significant success. Customer service, the Evolve way It was vital for Ascona Group to benefit from our best-in-class customer service. Evolve has undergone a five-year period of transformation in our own business – ensuring we can provide exactly that. Today, we offer a 24x7x365 manned support desk. This means our customers can always speak to a human, no matter what the time or day, and never have to deal with the frustration of ‘chatting’ to a robot. Here at Evolve, we are eager to solve any challenges through our innovation network technologies. “Since the introduction of Evolve’s 24/7 managed network solution, we have been able to enjoy a standard network design across our estate – not only have our guests enjoyed 100% internet uptime, but Evolve’s knowledge of fuel brands and food-to-go has helped accelerate deployment. Many sites are cutover in just a day without distruption to fuel, shops or food sales. An additional benefit of moving services to the network is the cost reduction associated with the cancellation of many unused telephone lines.” Steve Townley ICT Manager at Ascona Group