Putting BMW’s communications in the fast lane
The BMW Group needed a new communications network that could make its workers as mobile as its innovative cars. See how Telefonica helped BMW with a VPN network that is flexible, efficient and secure.
Leading the way in automotive innovation
The BMW Group has been a leading supplier of premium automobiles and services for many years now. This lasting success can mainly be attributed to one thing – a fascination for innovation. Being a trailblazer of the industry, BMW has also sought to break new ground and find efficient solutions for corporate communication.
The challenge: Equipping 40,000 employees with the right connections
The objective was to optimally network all manufacturing departments and sites and facilitate a high degree of mobility for employees by providing a connection to the GSM, GPRS and UMTS networks. To achieve this objective, the high maintenance, inflexible DECT desktop phones were discontinued and the company switched to mobile solutions. The main challenge here was the task of equipping 40,000 employees with O2 mobile connections in a manner that was fast and problem–free.
The solution: A VPN network with room to grow
The investment in the future-proof Telefonica O2 Mobile Business solution meant that virtually all the requirements of BMW Group Germany were fulfilled with a single solution. The network (VPN), which was created especially for BMW, connects internal landline phones and mobile phones, is extremely user–friendly and can be easily integrated into the BMW network. This means cheaper connection prices – to both fixed landline numbers and mobile phones.
Due to the reservation of a complete block of telephone numbers, each BMW employee is given an individual extension number so that he or she can be reached quickly and cost-efficiently both internally and externally.
Telefonica O2 Germany also offers BMW numerous additional services: provision of BlackBerrys for mobile access to e-mail calendars, addresses and other data from company applications, services for mobile transfer via laptop, and the guarantee of direct SMSC access for instant messaging during alarm procedures.
The results: Future-proof technology
The Telefonica O2 Mobile Business solution offers BMW users a wide range of benefits:
- Cost optimization: cost-optimized phone calls, both internally and externally and use of the approximately 40,000 mobile terminal devices for national and international calls.
- Telefonica O2 mobile connections for more flexibility, efficiency, and productivity.
- Complete GSM mobile network for all BMW sites all over Germany with high quality both internally and externally, as well as in evacuation tunnels.
- Problem-free expansion and integration of the new GSM mobile network by Telefonica O2.
- Fail-safe thanks to a redundant connection to the Telefonica O2 network with service level agreement (SLA).
- Investment in a future-proof technology.
- As a subsidiary of the global Telefonica Group, Telefonica O2 is also leading the way with regard to the implementation of cost advantages in Spain, Great Britain and Ireland. For example, Telefonica O2 is already offering fixed landline products in addition to mobile services in Spain.
