Absolute cinema

The entertainment industry is in a constant state of flux and reflects the most important technological and cultural changes of its time like virtually no other industry. This also applies to the cinema sector, which today is confronted with changing consumer behaviour and the rise of streaming services. The example of UCI shows how it is nevertheless possible to remain competitive in a highly complex and volatile environment, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation.

The Challenge

New business areas thanks to digitalisation

UCI sees itself as a pioneer in the cinema industry and aims to continuously improve the cinema experience for its guests. Digitalisation plays a significant role in this: an informative and clearly structured online presence makes it easier to choose a film even before going to the cinema. "Mobile tickets" on smartphones enable seat-specific online bookings at no extra charge and save waiting times. The "UCI Unlimited Card" cinema flat rate is another example of the cinema chain's innovative offers. Modern foyers with stylish lounge areas and free Wi-Fi as well as a wide range of food and drinks provide the right setting before and after the film. There are also new business models, such as using the cinemas for corporate events and functions.

A stable, high-performance internet connection is essential both for regular cinema operations (the films shown are now stored as downloads on hard drives) and for the digital services for cinema guests, which are important for business success, as well as for expanding the business area to include B2B offerings. The pure MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) solution previously purchased from another provider did not fulfil these requirements adequately. UCI therefore decided to switch to the future-proof SD-WAN technology from Vodafone Business.

The Company

Internationally recognised multiplex pioneer

United Cinemas International (UCI) is part of the Odeon Group, the largest cinema operator in Europe. Since 2016, the Odeon Cinemas Group has in turn been part of AMC Entertainment Holding, the largest cinema chain in the world with around 1,000 cinemas and over 11,000 screens. The Odeon Group operates 360 cinemas with around 2,900 screens in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Portugal. In Germany, the history of UCI began in 1990 with the opening of the first modern multiplex cinema in Hürth near Cologne. The revolutionary concept was to change the German cinema landscape forever. Today, UCI has 21 cinema locations in Germany with 195 screens and 40,736 seats.

The Solution

Increasing business productivity with SD-WAN

The high demands on the stability and performance of the UCI corporate network result both from the need to speed up internal processes and from the various additional services that the company wants to offer its cinema-goers and B2B customers. Speeding up internal processes leads to greater employee satisfaction and relieves the burden on the company's own IT department. Additional digital offers increase the satisfaction of cinema guests, and new revenue models such as the targeted addressing of B2B target groups supplement the existing business.

Downloading digital film copies places lower demands on network capacity, as it takes place over a longer period of time before the actual screening. However, ticketing requires access to the booking systems of all connected locations, as vouchers purchased can also be redeemed in other cinemas, for example. In future, the app-based guest services are to be further expanded, for example through "order & collect" of food and drinks at peak times. High demands are also placed on internet connectivity for guest Wi-Fi and internet provision at B2B events such as meetings, conferences or product presentations.

In addition, not all employees work on site in the cinemas. Many of them are involved in organisation, logistics, marketing and other tasks related to the offerings described above. In addition to working at the company headquarters in Bochum or at the cinema locations, many of these employees also frequently work from home. Depending on the location and workplace, complaints had accumulated with the previous solution, for example when accessing online services at the company headquarters.

Malick Diagne, IT Systems Engineer at UCI, reports: "We were immediately convinced by SD-WAN as a solution." UCI uses it to combine up to three different Internet accesses at its locations: existing DSL or cable connections, a fibre optic connection if necessary and mobile communications to expand capacity and as a fallback. Malick Diagne continues: "What we particularly appreciate about Vodafone Business is the partnership-based cooperation. With Business SD-WAN, we are set up for the future and can continue to drive forward the digital transformation of our company." The SD-WAN solution is also an important basis for UCI's future offerings and business models.

The Advantages

Improved processes, optimal cinema experience and new business models

The internet connection of each individual cinema location is essential for the internet and network access of UCI employees, for offers such as app-based tickets, the cinema flat rate "UCI Unlimited Card", vouchers or the visitor WLAN as well as for the provision of high-performance internet for company events in the cinemas.

As IT Systems Engineer, Malick Diagne is responsible for UCI's corporate network and the connection of the individual locations. Manel Nuñez is IT Director Southern Europe at the ODEON Cinemas Group. They are also responsible for the switch to SD-WAN. We spoke to both of them about digitalisation in the cinema business, new opportunities in customer service and the benefits of SD-WAN.

What role does digitalisation play in cinema operations?

Manel Nuñez: This starts with the actual film screening. The celluloid reel that some people might still be imagining is long gone. Today, projection is digital, films are distributed via the internet and stored on hard drives. Encryption and playback software ensure that each digital copy can only be shown as often and for as long as it is licensed. But that is only one side of the coin. At least as important is everything that happens around the film screening – and that too is digital today.

How, for example?

Manel Nuñez: For example, our mobile tickets, vouchers and the "UCI Unlimited Card" – our flat-rate tickets. All of these offers are available to customers via an app. In the cinemas, however, these tickets, other digital services and the free guest WiFi require a high-performance and reliable internet connection. This is at least as important for our B2B target group – for example, when we organise corporate events in our cinemas. Then there is the internet connection for employees: Ticket control, snack sales and film screenings only make up part of our colleagues' tasks. Large teams are also involved in organisation, logistics and marketing – and need a reliable company network for this.

What was the previous solution for this, and why did you decide to switch to SD-WAN?

Malick Diagne: The company headquarters and some of our locations were connected via MPLS from another provider. Some cinema locations also only had a DSL or cable connection. The SD-WAN concept, which divides the bandwidth between several Internet connections used in parallel, is a real game changer in comparison. In future, SD-WAN will also be an enabler for new services – with this technology, we have taken a big step towards the future.

How did you organise this transition?

Malick Diagne: We naturally carried out tests and trialled pre-configurations. The next step was to connect the first cinema via SD-WAN. The old connection is currently still available as a backup. However, the results have exceeded our expectations. That is why we initiated the changeover of all locations very quickly.

How do you rate the cooperation with Vodafone?

Malick Diagne: The motto "Together we can" sums it up perfectly. The collaboration is absolutely partnership-based and solution-orientated. We are in close dialogue at all times and have overcome minor challenges together along the way.

Digitisation poses major challenges for SMEs – as confirmed by a recent survey conducted by the industry association Bitkom. More than 53% of the 603 companies surveyed stated that they were experiencing difficulties with digitalisation.

Modern network technologies such as SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) offer an effective solution. A powerful, secure and flexible network infrastructure supports the integration of cloud services, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the automation of business-critical processes.

Powerful networks as the basis for digital transformation

Traditional IT infrastructures often reach their limits in today's working world. Companies increasingly need to efficiently network decentralised locations, mobile devices and cloud applications. A modern network should therefore:

• Provide high bandwidths to operate data-intensive applications with high performance.
• Be flexible and scalable to support growing requirements.
• Ensure high availability and reliability.
• Comply with security standards to prevent cyber attacks and data loss.

This is where SD-WAN comes into play: it enables intelligent control of data traffic across different connections and optimises the performance of business-critical applications.

SD-WAN: Increased efficiency through intelligent networking

SD-WAN addresses many of the typical requirements for network infrastructure in medium-sized businesses. Compared to traditional wide area networks (WANs), which are based on proven but less flexible architectures, SD-WAN offers a modern, adaptable solution with numerous advantages.

AI and digitalisation: networks as enablers for innovation

Digitalisation and the use of AI-based automation are directly dependent on network performance. Real-time analyses, predictive maintenance and intelligent automation require stable and fast data connections. A modern SD-WAN creates the necessary foundation to utilise these technologies efficiently.

Future-proof networks for sustainable success

Modern networks are a decisive factor in making SMEs fit for the digital future. SD-WAN increases agility and efficiency, while a high-performance infrastructure enables the successful use of AI. Companies that invest in future-proof network technologies secure long-term competitive advantages and remain competitive even in times of rapid technological developments.

Would you like to utilise the potential of modern communication networks for your company? Our experts are available to provide you with personalised advice!