Upgraded and standardized IHOP restaurant connectivity, voice communications, and security in preparation for rapid growth
Earth City, MO (March 23, 2021) — Mr. Stax, the nation’s third-largest group of management companies that operate International House of Pancakes (IHOP) restaurants, has consolidated its network, communication, and security infrastructure in 66 of its restaurants with the help of Interface Security Systems, a leading managed service provider delivering business security, managed network, UCaaS and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises.
In order to keep up with rapid changes in consumer preferences and improve security, Mr Stax chose to work with Interface to offer its restaurants a fully-managed, high-availability restaurant network-in-a-box solution. Interface also supplied a cloud-based voice service designed to handle customer orders at scale, and video verified alarms to proactively safeguard employees and customers.
Even before COVID-19 temporarily shut down the restaurant industry in the US, restaurant chains, such as those managed by Mr. Stax, were bracing themselves for transformative changes in consumer preferences. Increased operational complexity and eroded margins created the need to put in place reliable technology solutions for end-to-end network connectivity, online ordering systems, food safety and compliance monitoring, and physical security. The management team at Mr. Stax wanted to put in place the necessary technology infrastructure to streamline networking, ensure employee safety in the workplace and offer their patrons new and safe ways to enjoy their IHOP experience.
This incident marked a turning point in El Pollo Loco’s approach to loss prevention and paved the way for a complete review of how intrusion monitoring was implemented.
“The COVID-19 pandemic created a dramatic shift in how consumers order food,” according to Harold Ceron, Chief Operating Officer at Mr. Stax, “ More customers now prefer to order online, and we had to completely overhaul our operations to offer our employees and guests a safe space for dine-ins. The shift in the business model has put the spotlight on how important a standardized technology platform is for companies like us.”
The scope of the managed services delivered by Interface include:
Network-in-a-Box – A reliable and secure managed network connectivity solution that includes routers, modems, and a PCI-compliant network cabinet installed in 66 Mr. Stax IHOP locations for all network connectivity, wireless back-up, and cloud-powered remote reboot capabilities for reliable handling of online orders.
Business Voice – A cloud-based voice solution implemented for all 66 locations with advanced features such as cloud auto-attendant and call-routing to manage the growth in phone orders.
Video Verified Alarms and CCTVs – A comprehensive managed alarm service with 24X7 monitoring of alarm events to minimize false alarms and proactively deal with threats. The solution also included CCTV cameras for onsite security and operations management.
With Interface, Mr. Stax is able to consolidate all key technology requirements with a single vendor with a flat-rate monthly invoice, thereby simplifying operations and lowering cost.
“Interface delivers innovative technology with a passion for superior customer experience. They truly understand our business and our goals,” said Nathan Hughes, VP of Restaurant Excellence at Mr. Stax. “It might seem obvious that vendors need to listen to their customers, but in truth, few invest in the time and effort. We’re glad to see that Interface is the exception.”
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About Interface Security Systems
Interface Security Systems is a leading managed services provider delivering business security, managed network, UCaaS and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises. We improve security, streamline connectivity, optimize operations, and reduce IT costs, maximizing ROI for the nation’s top brands. Learn more and follow us on our blog Making IT Happen and on LinkedIn.
For more information, please contact:
Véronique Froment or Doug Hansel, Highrez
veronique@highrezpr.com
doug@highrezpr.com
+1 603-537-9248
