Optimising Domino's network by unlocking the Meraki platform API

A piping hot pizza delivered straight to your door may be what you are familiar with, but unlocking Domino’s platform API was the secret ingredient to optimising their network. 

Master’s at creating the perfect pizza is how Domino’s have become a market leader in takeaway pizza and their approach to technology has enabled stores across the UK to maintain their first-class food and service. With a strong future for the family favourite business, 
technology has played a key part in ensuring they remain at the top. 

Unlocking the platform API to optimise network capabilities

As early adopters of Meraki technology and who weren’t afraid to push the technology boundaries, Domino’s knew that by unlocking the platform API they could optimise their network efficiencies, save time, money and resource, they just needed the right partner to support 
their approach. 

We began our partnership with Domino’s by deploying our CAE Labs solution that provided Domino’s with intelligent and actionable insights into their network, enabling them to achieve their goals. This solution was Network Intelligence; powered by our CAE Labs platform.

Once deployed, Network Intelligence opened the door to network visibility, enabling the business to review port utilisation across its networks in offices and distribution locations. It quickly became clear that they could optimise the number of ports on the network, enabling them to reuse and recycle the unused Switches to other projects instead of investing in new equipment. Month-on-month reporting from Network Intelligence, showed over 1,500 under utilised ports one year ago, but as of today, 1000 of these have been removed and reused elsewhere within the business, reducing the need to spend more money and reducing the need for unnecessary energy consumption and cooling, which contributes towards Domino’s sustainability goals.

With the long-standing adoption of Meraki technology, the announcement from Cisco last year of various end-of-life announcements for the (MS) Switch range could have been a time-consuming exercise to identify and continually track all the Meraki technology across the business. But through the single lens dashboard that Network Intelligence provides, end-of-life products were easily identifiable and enabled the team to formulate a future networking strategy with CAE that is underpinned by a Catalyst Switching platform, the future of Cloud Networking for Cisco. 

Intelligent custom integration: Meraki Smart Cameras - WiserWatts - Network

As with many businesses, Domino’s attention has turned to their sustainability strategy, from solar panels in the supply chain to electric vehicles and the distribution of pepperoni and cheese, it came to IT Leader Michael Chute’s attention that IT were falling behind in support of this company-wide sustainability approach. Taking the reins as the IT Sustainability Champion, Michael and his team started to consider how they could align their IT strategy to the company’s sustainability goals. Having an already
trusted partnership with CAE, the team were familiar with the CAE Labs sustainability solution; WiserWatts.

The team at Domino’s looked for opportunities to provide on demand network connectivity. Through the deployment of WiserWatts, they delivered automation and set a schedule to turn off the Wi-Fi to the floor on certain days, during certain times. This not only reduced their energy consumption but also cost waste in unused power and technology.

Working closely with the CAE Labs team, Domino’s were able to deliver a new innovative approach to its people through network automation. Instead of scheduling Wi-Fi powering on at set times, they unlocked the platform API further and linked their network through WiserWatts to Meraki Smart Camera’s so that computer-vision based people detection can be utilised to power back on the Wi-Fi. By doing this, they have created an innovative and powerful piece of technology that uses the cameras 
detection technology to ascertain people and vehicles and then power up the network in certain areas of the building when people are entering. With 1,400 franchised stores across the UK, the possibility to spread the cost savings and reduction in energy consumption is far greater than its current deployment in the Head Office – the base is just the beginning! 

This new and innovative approach has given Domino’s a true sustainable approach to saving costs and reducing energy waste, automating the powering up and down of the network, hardware and Wi-Fi only when it is needed, removing the need to set schedules. 

With 1,400 franchised stores across the UK, the possibility to spread the cost savings and reduction in energy consumption is far greater than its current deployment in the Head Office – the base is just the beginning!

"Assure is my insurance policy - Michael Chute, Head of Platform Engineering and Enterprise Architecture"

Accidental change and human error are an increasing cause for network interruptions and outages. Following a minor out of hours incident last year Domino’s reflected on what could have been and was enough for Michael Chute Head of Platform Engineering and Enterprise Architecture at Domino’s, to reach out to CAE to discuss options and promptly activate the CAE Labs Assure service as the answer.

The cloud backup service enables businesses to act quickly through tight platform API integration to rapidly restore data remotely to affected areas of the Meraki Dashboard, resulting in minimal disruptions, minimal loss of revenue and brand damage.

As a franchised business, the franchisees put their trust in the brand to be available and online continuously so they can serve their customers without delay which is why “Assure is my insurance policy” is a powerful message from Domino’s Head of Platform Engineering and Architecture, should the worst happen Domino’s know they can sleep soundly at night with their backup and data protected through Assure.