German Supermarket Chain

About the client

The client is a renowned German global discount supermarket chain and ranks as the 6th largest grocery retailer in the UK, holding a 7.7 percent market share as of August 2023. Headquartered in Wimbledon, London, the company operates over 12,000 stores across every EU member state, as well as in Serbia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The challenge

With a large number of locations and diverse door access requirements, the client was facing challenges in managing visitor access across their UK Headquarters. Additionally, they were seeking to streamline operations and enhance the visitor experience by implementing a more efficient visitor management system. The client also required integration with their current access control system, Exos platform.

They were aiming to address the following challenges:

• Implementing access control for a variety of hardwired and wireless doors
• Installing speed lane control systems at the front and rear entrances to deter unauthorized access
• Integrating Visitor and Contractor Management with the access control system

Customizable workflows based on visitor types were crucial for the supermarket's new HQ campus.

The solution

The VAR company collaborated with Acre security to implement Acre Enterprise Visitor Management, a cloud-based solution that provided a centralized platform for managing visitors across all locations, integrating it with Outlook, Teams, and Exos. This solution not only streamlined operations but also enhanced the overall visitor experience through features such as pre-registration, self-service check-in kiosks, and real-time reporting. It also allowed visitors to conveniently scan badges at turnstiles for site access.

The customer utilize what I call a complemented concierge experience, using iPads at the front desk for self-check-in to which the reception team print and hand the visitor a badge. Upon being collected by your host, the soft label badge you received will activate, allowing you to use the QR Code on the badge at the speed lanes.
–  Jonathan Block, Acre security Account Manager

The result

Following thorough research on customer needs, the project team implemented the access control system, combining hardwired and wireless online access control points.

The integration of the access control reader, Acre Enterprise Visitor Management solution and Exos software and hardware enhanced the visitor experience and streamed visitor details with barcode readers.

The successful integration with Exos and the enhanced visitor experience were pivotal in securing the project. Positive client feedback was received for the innovative approach to product feature enhancements and the variety of visitor kiosk options offered.

The project's success has led to plans for expansion, with 14 additional locations across the UK set to benefit from the implemented solution.