Digital transformation
Kärcher case study
How we transformed this cleaning manufacturer’s operations with cloud-based connectivity.
December 01, 2023
4 minutes
Digital transformation
Kärcher case study
How we transformed this cleaning manufacturer’s operations with cloud-based connectivity.
December 01, 2023
4 minutes
Growing demand for digital services was affecting Kärcher’s network performance. This made it harder for Kärcher to expand at the speed it wanted, risked impacting customers’ experience online and saw costs rise rapidly.
We created a custom networking solution for Kärcher that was built on three corner stones: growth, security and innovation. We started by improving infrastructure, addressing security concerns and adding a service wrap.
Kärcher now has a network that can flex for what’s next. Customers get the best experience when using Kärcher’s online services. And deploying applications at scale is simple, giving employees the tools they need.
Kärcher has always been one step ahead. The world’s largest cleaning equipment manufacturer invented Europe’s first hot-water pressure washer in 1950.
Today, Kärcher is working on everything from robotics to eco-friendly cleaning tools that use less energy and are more recyclable. The company has also launched hundreds of new products in the past few years.
When the company needed to upgrade its network, it wanted a partner that valued innovation as much as them. That’s why Kärcher came to us.
The challenge
Kärcher’s existing network was under a lot of pressure. To create an agile working environment, team members were increasingly connecting in the cloud. At the same time the manufacturer was offering new online services built on its ‘cleaning on demand’ platform, to appeal to customers’ high-tech tastes.
This growing digital demand was affecting the network’s performance. This made it harder for Kärcher to expand at the speed it wanted and risked impacting customers’ experience online. It also sent its IT maintenance costs spiralling.
Kärcher needed a digital transformation that would clean up its operations. It wanted a faster, more secure and reliable network so it could work in the way it wanted.
We now have a network that can flex for what’s next.
The solution
To help Kärcher adapt, we created a custom networking solution that was built on three cornerstones: growth, security and innovation.
We started by improving infrastructure. To handle the increased traffic flow, we added intelligent connectivity that can automatically prioritise business-critical apps. Additional control also makes it easier for Kärcher to scale its systems as its business expands.
Moving to the cloud opens businesses up to increased cyber-threats, so we added several layers of protection to keep Kärcher’s data safe. This included a new firewall to defend the company’s entire network, plus endpoint protection to detect and respond to threats on individual devices faster.
To make sure Kärcher’s global network is always up to date, we added a service wrap. While the company remains in control of its security policies, our experts routinely check its infrastructure for vulnerabilities and maintain its firewall.
Another team makes sure all Kärcher’s hardware and software stays compliant.
The result
Kärcher now has a network that can flex for what’s next. The automatic traffic prioritisation means customers always get the best experience when using Kärcher’s online services. And deploying applications at scale is simple, so team members always have the tools they need.
Next-level security helps the cleaning manufacturer to stay protected. Kärcher remains in control of policies, so can still work the way it wants. But our managed support also means the manufacturer gets up-to-the-minute reports on its system’s health, and can block threats before they reach the network.
This all means it’s easier for the company to expand, embrace new technologies and keep pace with the ever-changing business landscape.
