Anyone driving along the Brussels ring road near Vilvoorde cannot miss DPD’s massive hub. The facility stretches nearly 200 meters in length and processes around 20,000 parcels per hour. It was constructed with sustainability as a top priority, featuring electric charging infrastructure and 734 solar panels on the roof. Of course, such a high-tech sorting center – the first of its kind in Belgium – needs to rely on a solid and stable network architecture. Any issue with the network could have direct consequences for the business. To ensure this high availability, DPD reached out to Colibri Consulting.

The partnership between DPD and Colibri goes back much further in time. It all began with third-line support for the company’s Internet and MPLS connections. Over the years, as the company’s network needs became more advanced and sophisticated, Colibri’s support has broadened to encompass more components, such as Wi-Fi, firewall, networking and authentication.

“Today, they assist us with our firewall and network architecture, and they also provide specialized support”, says Timothy De Ben, IT Infrastructure Manager at DPD. “We often turn to them when we need an extra set of hands to identify the root cause of an issue. Hiring professionals with this level of expertise is nearly impossible these days, so the ability to rely on their experience is invaluable for us.”

The IT infrastructure at DPD’s new hub in Vilvoorde had to be fully operational well in advance of the official opening. Colibri’s experts worked on site, even during the construction phase, wearing safety helmets as the facility took shape. “The sorting center operates as a machine in itself. The installation is based on IT-driven components that must seamlessly interact with one another. Rigorous testing was necessary, so the server room had to be the first to be completely finished” explains De Ben.

“Apart from handling the server room and the top-level design of our facility in Vilvoorde, Colibri Consulting provided the firewalls for our headquarters and our remote locations. They also established a dark fiber link between our data centers and an encrypted backup line”, explains De Ben. “Colibri played a crucial role in designing our network architecture and was vital in troubleshooting issues, setting up the right configurations, and ensuring flawless implementation. They consistently strive for the optimal solution, while keeping in mind the business implications of every decision.”

“Colibri Consulting is a partner I can trust like my own employees”, says De Ben. “That’s why we do not consider them as an external team. They are open and honest, bringing in-depth knowledge and skills. I have been working with them for four years now, and they are always willing to help.”

“Finally, because our network architecture has become more important than ever, Colibri Consulting provides us with operational security. When they propose a solution, you can be sure that it will work. That’s why I see them as a long-term partner and we will continue to use their services.”