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Case Study • 3 minute read

Transforming the Largest Retail Network in the Southern Hemisphere with SD-WAN

Facing tight timelines and complex requirements, one of Australia's largest retailers partnered with WWT to modernize its national network — deploying SD-WAN to more than 1,100 sites in just 14 weeks.

In this case study

  1. Challenge
  2. Solution
  3. Results

 Challenge

As one of the most recognized brands in Australia, a Retailer operates the largest distributed network in the Southern Hemisphere. That scale, while impressive, had introduced increasing complexity behind the scenes. The existing infrastructure — built over time to support rapid expansion — was beginning to show signs of strain in an increasingly digital and decentralized retail environment. Network performance was inconsistent across sites, scalability was limited and security controls varied by location. The organization recognized the need for a more unified, agile approach to support modern operations and future innovation.

To achieve its strategic vision, the Retailer launched an ambitious effort to deploy Cisco Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN), based on the Viptela fabric, across more than 700 business-critical sites nationwide. The rollout would need to account for varying degrees of site complexity, from urban retail hubs to remote regional locations.

Weeks before the project was due to begin, the Retailer compressed the already ambitious 26-week deployment schedule to just eight weeks. What began as a complex initiative suddenly became a race against time.

 Solution

WWT initially supported a small set of pilot sites to demonstrate its ability to deliver outcomes at scale. Following the pilot's success, the Retailer selected WWT to lead the national SD-WAN deployment, with responsibility for delivering more than 700 site cutovers in less than one-third of the original timeline.

Rather than scale back expectations, WWT scaled up its response. A global project team was quickly mobilized, combining local engineering resources, nearshore project managers and U.S.-based SD-WAN experts. WWT leveraged its global delivery framework and best practices honed through previous large-scale deployments, bringing automation, playbooks, and a highly disciplined approach to site readiness and cutover execution.

This hybrid delivery model allowed WWT to coordinate across geographies, maintain quality across site types and adjust in real time to evolving customer needs. As confidence grew, so did the project scope — eventually expanding to over 1,100 sites, including distribution centers, corporate offices and customer fulfillment centers.

 Results

WWT successfully cut over all sites ahead of schedule, completing more than 1,100 locations — including 400 added midstream — in just 14 weeks. The effort delivered a seamless transformation of one of the world's largest distributed retail networks, combining speed, consistency and minimal disruption to day-to-day operations. What began as a high-stakes rollout quickly became a model for how large-scale infrastructure modernization can be executed with precision.

The engagement has since evolved into a long-term strategic relationship. The Retailer now sits on WWT's Customer Advisory Board, a testament to the trust and partnership established through the success of the initiative. WWT continues to provide guidance and thought leadership as the organization plans future phases of its SD-WAN evolution.