Game Developer Case Study (Hardware Sourcing)
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Client Overview
A US-based video game developer needed to overhaul its network to keep pace with rising player traffic, expanding online services, and heavier internal development workloads. Reliability wasn't optional. Any downtime hit players directly and slowed the engineering teams building the next release
Client Objective
The client needed to replace 88 Cisco Catalyst 9300 switches across their environment. The goal was straightforward: reduce downtime risk and move their team onto a switching platform they could actually support long-term.
The problem was timing. Post-COVID supply chain disruptions had pushed lead times on the 9300 beyond 400 days. Every traditional VAR they approached quoted over a year out, which meant the project would stall and the aging hardware would stay in production well past any reasonable threshold.
The requirement was simple: source all 88 units at OEM quality, fast enough to keep the refresh on schedule.
PivIT's Solution
Having worked with PivIT before on professional services projects, the customer turned to PivIT to see if the required switches could be sourced faster than standard channels.
Multi-channel sourcing: PivIT’s inventory specialists tapped into multiple sourcing channels, leveraging strong OEM and partner relationships, in-stock inventory, and a global network of manufacturers and suppliers.
Lead time compression: Using this three-channel approach, PivIT procured all 88 Cisco Catalyst 9300 units in just three weeks, despite industry-wide shortages and 400+ day lead times elsewhere.
White-glove delivery & deployment readiness: Each switch received “white glove” handling to ensure safe delivery, allowing the customer to move ahead with their network upgrade, and put the latest Cisco gear into production months ahead of time
Customer's Need's
The customer required assistance procuring the network equipment. Their senior network engineer reached out to PivIT, having used some of PivIT's professional services before, and asked if the required switches could be sourced. They did not want to wait over a year to receive the equipment, which was the lead time other VARs were quoting.
Why PivIT
PivIT uses its global partner network to source critical hardware when standard VAR channels are backordered or unavailable. By sourcing from multiple suppliers and leveraging in-stock inventory, we deliver high-demand OEM gear, ready for deployment.