Starbucks
The Sunshine Solves team executed a comprehensive technology integration for a high-traffic Starbucks location. This project required a robust, dual-purpose network capable of handling heavy consumer Wi-Fi traffic alongside mission-critical POS transactions. Our team installed a high-speed Managed Network, integrated Multi-Terminal POS systems for front-counter and drive-thru operations, and deployed a Strategic Surveillance System to ensure staff safety and operational efficiency in a high-turnover retail setting.
Project Challenges
Bandwidth Contention: Managing massive public Wi-Fi usage (customers streaming/working) without slowing down the critical Mobile Order & Pay system or the Drive-Thru headsets.
Environmental Durability: Installing POS hardware and cabling in “wet” zones near espresso machines and sinks where steam, heat, and liquid splashes are constant risks.
Drive-Thru Synchronization: Integrating the outdoor order point with the indoor POS and kitchen display systems (KDS) to ensure timing accuracy and order speed.
Peak-Hour Maintenance: Performing critical network cutovers or camera adjustments in a business that operates 18+ hours a day with constant foot traffic.
Limited Back-Office Space: Fitting enterprise-grade networking equipment and NVRs (Network Video Recorders) into extremely small, cramped manager offices.
Project Solution
Traffic Shaping & QoS (Quality of Service): Configured advanced router rules to prioritize “Transactional Data” over “Guest Data,” ensuring that even if the lobby is full of students on Wi-Fi, the credit card machines never lag.
Weather-Hardened Drive-Thru Tech: Deployed IP65-rated outdoor camera housing and moisture-resistant CAT6 termination points to protect the system from the elements and high-moisture café air.
Synchronized KDS (Kitchen Display System): Installed ruggedized touchscreens at the “Barista Station” that pull data instantly from both the front counter and the mobile app, reducing order-to-hand-off time.
Low-Profile Vertical Racks: Utilized wall-mounted vertical server racks to house the network core, saving floor space while keeping the equipment ventilated and secure.
Omni-Directional Lobby Security: Installed 360-degree “fisheye” cameras in the center of the café, providing total visual coverage of the seating area and condiment bar with a single device, reducing the total “tech footprint” on the ceiling.
