Teknion leverages SD-WAN to become an IoT disruptor
“We were looking for a network without borders and we found exactly that with Masergy!”
John Comacchio
Senior Vice President and CIO at Teknion
How Teknion has become a disruptive and dominating force in the office furniture industry is a story of transformation that starts with CIO, John Comacchio. As a former principal at KPMG, Comacchio is no stranger to building a culture around innovation. Making waves at Teknion, he enacted cloud and IoT strategies that are leading the company in a new era of analytics-based business models and offerings. But to understand how Teknion got to this point is to journey into Teknion’s IT infrastructure.
In 2006, Teknion launched a company-wide initiative to bring all global offices closer together. Designed to bulldoze roadblocks worldwide, the OneTeknion initiative aimed to unite all global operations. The first priority was to leverage a suite of global business applications and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to build a backbone for integration and innovation. The only problem: the company’s existing network. Comacchio soon learned that Teknion’s IT infrastructure couldn’t support global application delivery for 30 locations worldwide. It’s here that Masergy enters the story.
Recognized results
- Increased application performance/user experience
- Streamlined cloud migration/digital transformation
- Increased network reliability/efficiency
- Simplified IT complexity
“Prior to Masergy, we had great difficulty managing multiple network providers, frequent network outages, and communication infrastructure gaps,” explained Comacchio. So, he went in search of a global networking partner that could reinvigorate the company’s IT infrastructure and help him lay a foundation for digital transformation. His dream: globally consistent and high-quality connectivity from a partner who provided a single platform with simplified billing, clear pricing, and easy to understand SLAs. But more than a wishlist, Comacchio described his desire as a need to deliver a “single source of truth” for worldwide reliable connectivity from a central location.
After evaluating legacy, Tier-1 and next-generation providers, Comacchio selected Masergy to establish a software-defined networking strategy. He leveraged Masergy’s Managed SD-WAN to deliver a combination of private links for guaranteed service (including 100 percent in-sequence packet delivery, jitter values of less than 1ms) and application reliability key locations while strategically leveraging lower-cost broadband connectivity for a secure external portal serving its global customers, partners, and vendors. Better still, Comacchio and his team made OneTeknion possible without significantly increasing costs.
“What Masergy gave us was one single reliable delivery network. All of our sites are interconnected through the Masergy network, which is a reliable connection and a single point of delivery. It’s just there for us all the time,” he said.
Solution: stop worrying about the WAN and focus on innovation
Empowered to drive innovation, Comacchio could now stop worrying about running the WAN and focus on the next chapter in Teknion’s digital evolution—cloud migration. Again, Teknion’s network laid the groundwork. The new agile IT infrastructure paved Comacchio’s way to the cloud, effectively maintaining a high-quality user experience even as more and more systems transitioned to software as a service. Accelerating the migration, Comacchio reports Teknion’s cloud strategy is mature today. All applicable systems have migrated to the cloud, and the cloud-first approach applies only as needed when new capabilities are added. Now, his team can focus on strategic revenue-generating activities rather than IT maintenance.
More confident than ever in his network infrastructure, Comacchio found that he could again lift his sights to the horizon, this time reaching for a larger digital innovation goal—enabling IoT. He knew this next move would be instrumental in driving strategic differentiators to leapfrog the competition, and indeed, what the company is achieving today is truly disruptive.
Result: enabling IoT and developing new analytics-based digital services
Teknion’s manufacturing process generates massive amounts of data alongside fresh office decor, and with that data comes immense potential. Again, turning opportunity into innovation starts with Comacchio and the network.
Operating with an agile network, Teknion’s IT department responsively manages bandwidth, dynamically assigning resources and power right where IoT initiatives need it. Global plants collect massive amounts of data from manufacturing machines, analyze it, and create dashboards to help managers make informed decisions about machine repairs and usage. Moreover, Comacchio leverages the Masergy software-defined network to create an unlimited number of virtual private network environments where R&D and manufacturing facilities can safely test and prove the latest technologies and ideas. Quickening its speed-to-delivery, this is Teknion’s innovation incubator.
Backed by network agility, Teknion becomes a co-creator with its clients, custom designing solutions aligned with unique business needs. For example, Teknion is exploring IoT office occupancy sensors and creating big-data services that help clients maximize productivity. It’s also responding to large customer requests for B2B ecommerce platforms, experimenting with cloud solutions and today’s open API economy. When you combine network flexibility with the fact that Teknion still makes what they sell, their secret to market domination becomes clear: Teknion can deeply control every step in both the IT and manufacturing process. This is what allows it to adapt, adjust, re-tool, and build fresh solutions on the edge of digital innovation. This is what enables Teknion to be a creative collaborator operating at the speed of next.
Interested in learning more about SD-WAN?
Call us now to arrange a consultation (866) 588-5885.
Or arrange for a consultation through our request form.
Dole protects global food quality with high-performance SD-network
Dole made global operations more reliable while reducing WAN costs by 45%. Read the full story.
Learn more about Dole protects global food quality with high-performance SD-network
BroadPath creates a radically different IT platform for work from home
BroadPath began optimizing contact centers for remote work long before it was popular. See how they deliver a highly reliable WFH business model.
Learn more about BroadPath creates a radically different IT platform for work from home
IMC Companies provide supply chain transparency with technology built on a high-performance network
See how IMC uses Masergy to enable up-to-the-minute transparency into the precise movements of international container shipments.
Property management company gains cloud stability and IT productivity
Taking a cloud-first approach that would preserve service quality, this company bundled SD-WAN with collaboration and direct cloud connections.
Learn more about Property management company gains cloud stability and IT productivity
Healthcare: How providers transform with help from Masergy
With telemedicine and more medical devices, healthcare IT is under more pressure. Here’s how healthcare companies use Masergy to enable digital care.
Learn more about Healthcare: How providers transform with help from Masergy
SD-WAN prepares healthcare provider for spikes in telemedicine
When telemedicine usage spiked to 100%, their network didn't even hiccup. Learn how this healthcare provider treats patients with 5x more bandwidth.
Learn more about SD-WAN prepares healthcare provider for spikes in telemedicine
Smart manufacturing: How companies transform with help from Masergy
Smart manufacturing can be a complex IT paradigm shift. Here’s how three manufacturers use Masergy to move from concept to reality.
Learn more about Smart manufacturing: How companies transform with help from Masergy
Legal firms build trust and service efficiencies with Masergy
Built on their reputations, legal firms must meet the demands of their digital clients. Here’s how several firms use Masergy to digitally transform.
Learn more about Legal firms build trust and service efficiencies with Masergy
ChoiceTel strengthens competitive SD-WAN opportunities and customer experience
ChoiceTel turned to Masergy for superior SD-WAN customer service and more business opportunities. Here’s how ChoiceTel describes the partnership.
Learn more about ChoiceTel strengthens competitive SD-WAN opportunities and customer experience
Pentima expands sales reach to large, global enterprises with Managed SD-WAN
Wanting to target larger clients, Pentima knew their network offerings would need to evolve in key ways. Learn how Managed SD-WAN opened new doors.
Learn more about Pentima expands sales reach to large, global enterprises with Managed SD-WAN
The autonomous enterprise: Building your digital vision
Masergy's CTO, Chris MacFarland, teaches you how to reach the milestone of true autonomy. This article originally appeared in Forbes.
Learn more about The autonomous enterprise: Building your digital vision
Moving to a virtual workforce? Four requirements and one key success factor
As a company that organizations around the world rely on for remote work solutions, Masergy shares these tips for building a work-from-home network.
Learn more about Moving to a virtual workforce? Four requirements and one key success factor
Weber-Stephen lays the groundwork for digital transformation
For Weber-Stephen Products, whetting the appetite of BBQ lovers requires one key ingredient: innovation. Learn how an IT refresh supported security and cloud migration while keeping the IT team focused on digital advancements.
Learn more about Weber-Stephen lays the groundwork for digital transformation
Protera wins with IT flexibility and unrivaled network connectivity
Learn how IT outsourcing provider Protera integrated Masergy’s connectivity services into its own solution offering, enabling its SAP-centric clients to seamlessly access applications, no matter where they reside--public, private cloud, or traditional data centers.
Learn more about Protera wins with IT flexibility and unrivaled network connectivity
Ingenico increases bandwidth by 30% and cuts costs by 40%
Ingenico needed a partner that would enable their cloud-first strategy. Explore how Masergy’s Managed SD-WAN increased bandwidth by 30 percent while also decreasing costs.
Learn more about Ingenico increases bandwidth by 30% and cuts costs by 40%
PRGX offers new analytics services with a software-defined network
When financial service provider PRGX needed a global network to support a big data analytics service across 30 countries, they turned to Masergy’s software defined platform. Hear how they process nearly 8 petabytes of data significantly faster.
Learn more about PRGX offers new analytics services with a software-defined network
Ancestry handles 75M searches daily with hyper-scale IT infrastructure
With Ancestry.com’s rapidly expanding footprint and ever-increasing demand for processing power, Masergy’s global network service delivers. Understand what powers this hyperscale web company to serve 2M subscribers and handle 75M daily searches.
Learn more about Ancestry handles 75M searches daily with hyper-scale IT infrastructure
Amgen accelerates biotech production connecting 64 sites in 7 months — start to finish
Amgen relies on Masergy for reliable network services. Learn how their infrastructure provides seamless connections backed by visibility, analytics, and 100% service availability.
HOP enables M&A strategy and cuts IT support costs by 60%
When network downtime started spurring 20 help calls per day, HOP Energy turned to Masergy for a solution. See how fully-managed hybrid networking reduces costs by 60 percent, proactively addressing bottlenecks and ensuring redundancy.
Learn more about HOP enables M&A strategy and cuts IT support costs by 60%
Hudson makes commercial mortgage and real estate services seamless across the globe
After a painful experience with a Tier-1 carrier’s MPLS service, commercial mortgage servicer Hudson Advisors needed a remedy. Hear how Masergy resolved their network and application performance problems with reliable connectivity for its global footprint.
Learn more about Hudson makes commercial mortgage and real estate services seamless across the globe
Wabtec advances transit innovation with global IT agility
When Wabtec’s network was struggling to keep pace with the demands of modernization in the railroad industry, executives asked Masergy for help. See how software defined networking digitally transformed their legacy system with agility and high performance.
Learn more about Wabtec advances transit innovation with global IT agility
Cornell delivers virtual classroom experiences without disruptions
Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School has a popular distance-learning program that requires flawless video conferencing. See how Masergy made the grade with a high-performance network, 24-7 support, and streamlined HD video on a pure IP/MPLS platform.
Learn more about Cornell delivers virtual classroom experiences without disruptions
Continuum transforms design consultations with video collaboration anywhere anytime
Globally-recognized design firm Continuum needed to connect professionals around the globe with video conferencing. See how Masergy’s network delivered a video service plane for exceptional quality of service that keeps employees focused on business.
Learn more about Continuum transforms design consultations with video collaboration anywhere anytime
Hamilton backs international investment services with flawless video communications
Private equity firm Hamilton Lane needed a next-generation global network that could seamlessly connect its headquarters, data center and branch offices. Understand the Masergy network architecture and features that supports the company’s voice, video, and data needs.
Learn more about Hamilton backs international investment services with flawless video communications