Regional grocery chain Country Grocer relies on RBS Managed IT Services and Scale Computing Platform to deliver resilient, responsive infrastructure across 10 store locations and central operations.
IT Challenges
- Point Of Sale (POS) servers running on unsecured desktops
- No backup or monitoring in place
- Poor visibility into IT systems
- Slow responsiveness from legacy infrastructure
- Reactive rather than proactive IT management
The Scale Computing Solution
- SC//Platform clusters deployed at each site
- Fully monitored, snapshot-enabled infrastructure
- All-in-one “datacenter in a box” for rapid deployment
- SC//Fleet Manager for centralized cluster oversight
- UPS and firewall included for portable resilience
Customer Results
- Completed entire deployment across 10 active stores in under three months
- Dramatic improvement in system performance
- Enhanced reliability and uptime
- Streamlined IT operations across stores
- Elevated trust and partnership with the customer
When Country Grocer faced escalating IT risks from outdated infrastructure and a lack of visibility, RBS Managed IT Services stepped in to modernize IT operations using Scale Computing Platform. The result: powerful and resilient clusters deployed across the grocery chain’s locations, transforming IT from a pain point into a competitive advantage.
The Challenge: The Hidden Expiration Date on Legacy Infrastructure
Country Grocer is a proudly family-owned and operated grocery chain that has served Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island since 1984. The company is deeply rooted in its communities, offering exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, and a strong commitment to supporting local farmers and producers.
With 10 County Grocer locations scattered across Vancouver Island and aspirations for continued growth, the need for a more robust and resilient backend IT infrastructure had become evident. Over time, IT had become both an unreliable and increasingly risky aspect of their operations. At several stores, critical point-of-sale systems were running on old desktop machines without backups or monitoring. There was no centralized way to detect issues, and any disruptions required on-site intervention and significant downtime.
“The old setup was fragile,” said Michael MacPherson, founder of RBS Managed IT Services. “When we were first brought in, some stores were literally running their POS off unmonitored desktop PCs with no protection in place. No backups, no server-grade hardware, no visibility – it was a ticking time bomb. We weren’t just concerned about performance; we were concerned about whether the store could function the next day if something failed.”
The infrastructure challenges came to a head following a ransomware incident, which exposed the full extent of the system’s vulnerability. With four newly acquired stores soon coming online, RBS saw an opportunity to not only address the immediate risks but to future-proof the entire organization’s IT foundation.
“This wasn’t about a tech refresh,” he explained. “It was about protecting the ability of each store to serve their communities without disruption. Country Grocer needed infrastructure that was resilient, manageable, and built for growth.”
The Solution: Hyperconvergence in a Box: A Portable, Powerful Upgrade
The catalyst for change came when Country Grocer acquired a smaller grocery chain of four stores in urgent need of IT upgrades. These newly acquired locations were operating with even less resilience than the original sites, creating a clear and immediate opportunity to prove what was possible with the right infrastructure. For RBS, it was the perfect scenario to showcase the capabilities of Scale Computing’s SC//Platform in the real world.
RBS designed a comprehensive modernization strategy centered on SC//Platform, deploying compact, hyperconverged three-node clusters at each site. Each unit was preloaded with UPS, firewall, and network switching equipment: a “datacenter in a box.” This all-in-one setup provided high availability, automated nightly snapshots, and resilience far beyond what the stores had previously known.
“We staged the deployments so we could roll them out with minimal disruption,” said MacPherson. “Everything was prebuilt and tested before it ever left our shop. We could roll in with a fully running cluster, plug it into power and network, and have the store online in a matter of hours, not days. That kind of portability and predictability was a game changer, especially in remote or high-traffic locations.”
The proving ground of the initiative was a live, in-person demonstration at a Country Grocer site. The cluster was running entirely on battery backup when it arrived, demonstrating its stability under real-world conditions. The client’s leadership team immediately saw the value of the platform’s compact footprint, energy efficiency, and quiet operation (not to mention the peace of mind that came from built-in failover capabilities).
“We staged the deployments so we could roll them out with minimal disruption. The entire deployment which spanned 10 active stores was completed in under three months,” said Michael. “Having everything preconfigured and portable made it easy to scale quickly and consistently.”
The Benefits: From Firefighting to Future-Proofing
Since deploying SC//Platform, Country Grocer has seen a marked improvement in performance and reliability. Outages have dropped dramatically, and IT issues that once required on-site visits are now resolved remotely, often before store staff even notice.
“We went from having zero visibility into their infrastructure to having a clean, central view of every store’s health, performance, and backups,” said MacPherson. “And when something needs attention, we know before the store even does. All of this came at a price point that was incredibly attractive compared to traditional server solutions, making it not just the best technological option but the most financially prudent one as well.”
With Scale Computing Fleet Manager, RBS gained centralized visibility and control over every deployment across the chain. Dashboards now provide real-time monitoring and health alerts for each store. System performance improved noticeably, with Point-of-Sale applications running faster and more reliably. Tasks that once caused delays or lockups were now processed smoothly. Automated snapshots deliver continuous data protection, enabling speedy recovery if issues arise.
Beyond technical benefits, the modernization has fostered a deeper trust between Country Grocer and RBS. With IT no longer a source of daily frustration, the grocery chain has asked RBS to take over full IT operations, including networking and support. “We’ve gone from a vendor-client relationship to something that feels like a true partnership,” said MacPherson. “Scale Computing gave us the tools and support to make that possible.”