Archives

Our very own Head of Technology, Thom Menzies has been featured alongside other local businesses for our partnership with CyberWhite, a Teeside-based cyber security firm.

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen met with some of CyberWhite’s clients to discuss the importance of cyber security in helping businesses to grow in the local area.

Working with several businesses across the region, CyberWhite recently facilitated a meeting between Mr Houchen and some of its Teesside clients to discuss the importance of cyber security in helping businesses to grow in the local area.

 

“The technology space on Teesside is growing rapidly and it’s important that we work collaboratively with businesses to ensure they have the security they need for success in the future.” – Matt Hewison (Director at CyberWhite)

 

 

“There is a lot of opportunity for the region to grow and it’s meetings like today that allow us to share ideas and plan for a more prosperous future.

Partnering with CyberWhite has allowed us to plan strategically for the next three years, identifying information security objectives and milestones. The relationship is superb, and the team are really interested in delivering outcomes.” – Thom Menzies (Head of Technology at Vianet)

 

 

 

 

“It shows that the digital sector can help the industrial sector and ultimately help increase local jobs by spending more money in the local area.” – Ben Houchen (Tees Valley Mayor)

 

 

 

 

If you want more information on our careers in the technology division, please contact us at recruitment@vianetplc.com

 

Vianet have worked closely with foodservice giant, Compass Group UK & Ireland, since 2018, offering payment and business insight solutions across their vending estate that contribute to their overall goal of protecting their people, property, profit, and brand.

As a result, Vianet and Compass have been shortlisted for Retail Risk’s Fraud Awards for their collaboration, with the awards taking place on 2nd December 2021. The awards shortlisted for are, ‘Award for best collaborative retail risk management solution’ and ‘Award for most innovative retail risk management cross-functional or supply chain solution’.

Together their collaborative approach to risk management and profit protection is a strategy that involves gradually eliminating cash as a payment method from the Compass business. By adopting contactless payment through Vianet’s technology, Compass manage, minimise, and reduce the risk of theft and cash loss from their vending machine estate, both protecting their clients, protecting their profits, and protecting their exceptional brand reputation.

Compass currently host 1200 of Vianet’s contactless payment devices on vending solutions across six different sectors and 150 locations across their estate. These contactless payment devices are all protected with high level PCI security, and supported by NMi and Elavon merchant banks, which are updated regularly to increase payment functionality.

Moving forward, they have a long-term plan to expand, installing a further 5000 devices over the next two years across their wider estate. Some of their existing contactless payment readers are in-situ across sites support businesses with 24-hour operation to allow quick and simple access, as well as secure transactions and convenience.

Not only do Vianet’s solutions offer a secure payment method that protects profits, but it also minimises risk from a health and hygiene perspective through reducing machine contact and cash handling from both the engineers and the consumers. With keyworkers in their locations as well as those returning to work in distribution centres and office spaces, the hygienic element of using self-service machines is now an essential consideration.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Vianet saw a massive shift in the use of contactless payment versus cash, seeing a more than 50 per cent increase in contactless payment usage due to the risks presented by the pandemic and fear of contamination through surfaces and cash handling.

Alongside contactless payment readers, Vianet’s telemetry devices also send data automatically from the machine to Compass to give them an overview of their estate eliminating any manual data readings or human error. These telemetry devices send data from the vending machines straight into Vianet’s real-time insight platform’ through the Internet of Things (IoT). This provides Compass with a digestible overview of their vending machine estate and cashless sales data, whilst also eliminating the risk of any manual or human error which may otherwise occur when taking readings.

It also gives Compass the ability to monitor and manage their vending stock and levels, as well as machine upkeep and performance, eliminating the risk of cash loss through machine break downs and theft. It also aids them with time management and profit protection through specifying labour levels and how many machines need filling, managing stock levels, optimising labour, revealing top-selling products so they can ensure they are meeting client needs and requirements, as well as creating efficiency.

Business Development Manager, Cole Little at Vianet said,

“We offer Compass Group UK & Ireland a product service that assists in supporting and futureproofing their tenders when pitching to clients, as well as efficiently managing their business remotely in the current unpredictable climate.

“Vianet’s products also help Compass employees with time management and profit protection by illuminating required service levels across the estate, optimising labour, ensuring hygiene requirements are met, as well as revealing top-selling products so they can ensure they are meeting client needs and requirements.”

 

Keep checking back to find out whether Vianet and Compass Group take home a trophy in this years Retail Risk Awards 2021.

Apprenticeships play a large part in creating opportunities for employees that allow them to move within the business, rather than limiting progression to ‘the next rung on the ladder’. As an organisation that’s experiencing rapid growth, instilling a culture that focusses on learning and development has been an integral part of Vianet’s ongoing success. Abi Thompson joined Vianet in June 2017 as an Apprentice within the Customer Experience Team and, after successfully completing her apprenticeship in 2018, joined the Helpdesk as an Assistance Advisor.

Over the last 2 years, Abi’s dedication to ensuring Vianet provide the best possible service to our customers saw her progress to a senior role within the Helpdesk; taking ownership of our Food Services customers, implementing new processes and procedures to improve the team’s efficiency, and building the knowledge within the wider team to ensure consistent and timely resolutions to customer queries.

Vianet’s Product Manager, Joanne Vinton-Bullwinkel, talks about the personal development she has seen first-hand from Abi:

“I’ve worked with Abi since I joined Vianet as Head of Customer Experience in January 2019 and the transformation I have seen in that time has been a privilege to watch.

Our business needed to evolve throughout the pandemic, and we came out of it stronger than ever because we have a wealth of people like Abi, with a steadfast commitment to ensuring the collective success of the business and our customers. Abi’s experience epitomises the spirit of Vianet for me, by investing in the development of our people, we ensure the delivery of our goals.

Abi tends to work quietly, without fanfare, supporting those around her and setting herself incredibly high standards. These qualities, and her continued investment in her own development, paved the way for Abi to progress within the business, and join the Product Team this year as a Junior Business Analyst. This role will allow Abi to play an active part in shaping the future of our products and the experience she has gained in her previous roles will further ensure their success.”

 

Apprenticeships are not only a great way to support young people in their transition between education and the workplace, but also an opportunity for existing employees to gain invaluable experience and recognised qualifications. Abi is a perfect example of this, and the focus Vianet have around developing their people.

When asked about her journey at Vianet so far, Abi said:

“Starting my apprenticeship with Vianet was a fantastic opportunity; I was provided everything I needed to learn which helped build both my personal, and the team, knowledge. This meant that I was able to progress with the company, working towards becoming a senior member of the team. During this time, I found a niche that I thrived in, and Vianet gave me the space and freedom to learn to work towards this goal. I am thrilled to be facing new and exciting challenges in my new role, and continuing my career and further education with Vianet, and I’m looking forward to my future within the company.”

 

If you would like to find out more about apprenticeship opportunities at Vianet,
please feel free to contact us.