--- title: Retail Giant Tracks Unlimited Data with BL.INK description: Shortened, branded URLs helped retail giant improve data tracking, eliminate broken links, streamline processes, measure marketing ROI with BL.INK image: https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Blink%20Compress%20Images/shutterstock_2189403495%20(1).jpg --- [![blink-logo-white](https://www.bl.ink/hs-fs/hubfs/zz-Archive/emails/blink-logo-white.png?width=714&height=143&name=blink-logo-white.png) ](https://www.bl.ink) [![login to blink](https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Theme%202022/Global%20Assets/person-logo.svg) Login ](https://app.bl.ink/my-login) [ Get a Demo ](https://bl.ink/top-right) ![Icon-3](https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Website%20navigation%20icons/new-svg-image/Icon-3.svg) #### Features Where we shine ![Icon-nav-flexi](https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Website%20navigation%20icons/new-svg-image/Icon-nav-flexi.svg) #### Flexibility Editable links 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BL.INK CXP Pricing requires a quote request ![Icon-nav-core-product](https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Website%20navigation%20icons/new-svg-image/Icon-nav-core-product.svg) #### BL.INK Core Monthly pricing that starts with a free trial ![Icon-nav-integrations](https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Website%20navigation%20icons/new-svg-image/Icon-nav-integrations.svg) #### Knowledge Base Tons of articles, videos ![Icon-nav-support](https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Website%20navigation%20icons/new-svg-image/Icon-nav-support.svg) #### Get Help Submit a ticket here ![BL.INK Open API](https://www.bl.ink/hs-fs/hubfs/Website%20navigation%20icons/Icon-nav-developers.png?width=40&height=40&name=Icon-nav-developers.png) #### For Developers Open API documentation # Retail Giant Tracks Unlimited Data with BL.INK ![retail qr codes](https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Blink%20Compress%20Images/shutterstock_2189403495%20(1).jpg) ![chart](https://www.bl.ink/hs-fs/hubfs/chart.png?width=80&height=80&name=chart.png) ### **Challenges** This household-name North American retail giant discovered broken links created with their previous provider. Once they switched to BL.INK, they also wanted to track social media data, make it easy for their employees to create on-brand, compliant links, and easily manage their branded short URLs across their massive business.  ![Unlimited_Icon](https://www.bl.ink/hs-fs/hubfs/Theme%202022/Home%20Page/Assets/Images/Unlimited_Icon.png?width=80&height=80&name=Unlimited_Icon.png) ### **Approach** This massive big-box store originally switched to BL.INK to create branded short links, but evolved to use the platform for key data tracking across multiple platforms. What’s more, migrating links from their previous provider was easy and manageable.  ![Growth opportunities](https://www.bl.ink/hubfs/Theme%202022/Home%20Page/Assets/Images/Growth%20opportunities.svg) ### Results Today they can better engage with their shoppers while tracking every touchpoint - The retail giant said goodbye to broken links - They now easily create and track data via shortened URLs created in Khoros, their customer engagement tool - Approved employees can easily create their own shortened URLs with admin guardrails that monitor compliance ### More than just shortened URLs A massive retailer with 2,000 locations and 400,000+ employees, this company trades on providing great customer experiences in stores, online, via social media, and in their digital apps and communications. Prior to 2014, they used Bit.ly to create shortened links, but found the functionality limiting. Here’s how BL.INK helped them streamline processes and measure important marketing metrics.  ### BL.INK uncovered 10,000 broken links created using Bit.ly As part of the automated migration of their old shortened URLs, they discovered a major problem.  “When they migrated from Bit.ly, we discovered more than 10,000 broken links,” said Andy Meadows, BL.INK’s leader. “They did not know they were broken. They’d made some website changes in the past that ‘broke’ these links, but were never alerted that they were broken.”  The BL.INK team helped them point thousands of short links to the appropriate destinations. BL.INK now alerts them to any broken links and enables default redirects to avoid future broken links. It’s a feature unique to BL.INK, no other shortened URL tools currently do this.  ### Short URL as single data point of truth in social media The retailer relies heavily on social media to market itself, using platforms that include Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest and more. Tracking each ad or engagement by platform, geography, and more is critical. Fortunately, BL.INK’s intuitive platform makes it easy for them to create and manage branded URLs that track every parameter they need.  The retail giant uses Khoros to manage their social media platforms, and BL.INK’s native integration means they can easily create links directly in Khoros, streamlining their workflow while capturing key data.  ### **Live chat agents easily create on-brand shortened URLs** With hundreds of thousands of employees, they wanted to make it easy for key employees to create their own shortened branded URLs, especially when sharing information with customers. BL.INK enables administrators to set up guidelines to point to specific approved URLs to ensure every link is on-brand. It also means hackers can’t “take over” links and surreptitiously redirect them to dangerous links.  Today their live chat agents use these branded URLs to point to specific product pages. The shortened link makes it easier to view in short chat boxes. What’s more, it just takes a few quick clicks to create the perfect link every time.  ### **URL builders customized to department needs ** The behemoth retailer created three customized URL builders within BL.INK, each specifically designed for specific departments or campaigns. This accomplishes a few things:  - Users only change the data required to create links for their use case - Drop-down values deliver perfectly-structured data every time, so analysis is cleaner and easier - Users don’t have to fumble with unnecessary data points that are irrelevant to their needs “With the URL builder, any team member can build out what their analytics team has determined is the perfect URL,” said Andy. “So no matter what kind of training they have, they can use the tool to create the short link and the analytics team gets exactly what they need with every transaction.” ### **BL.INK’s flexible URL shortener solves problem this retailer didn’t even know they had** Since resolving our client’s primary issues in 2014, BL.INK has partnered with this beloved retailer to find bullseye solutions to problems that changing times and technology bring with them. BL.INK eliminated broken links, made it easy for multiple users to create perfect shortened links in a snap, and integrated with their existing tools to capture and analyze data across all their platforms.  With BL.INK, this retail industry leader has all the features they require to function, and the security of knowing their needs will be met for years to come. [Contact us today](https://www.bl.ink/quote-request) and let’s talk about the problems we can solve for you. [ Download PDF ](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/click?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIJ5z0B7xzEjRWFOP1%2FQ1Mf7vouFkRmKhJF45N4WtS5vt5buPl1ZlJ9%2FVRoF2AWtsLw0cP30adH%2FuWMXfhRiCWGdZa1L1kzcuBlHV4LTz%2FGS0hWeukhylm10l%2BlEsVPX5MYX%2BBx%2FeqcljMowLAlqjWlp%2BgQvuo8WBp7wiUHnw6rTEhcG0gRtJVXN1pjpA4ITkI7GslSjxlkcRcVPTP3t1cHMaqCmhuCpkQYWlg7N4EfSHm6GeSpjK9ILeeZLFI%2FjZ5KOCa9VO1ATxkeaOxVGud4OO0th%2Bx%2Bnr21o%2BCalAHMsgPJQMUxP4oR3wFIpuBgY7gSNiGjrvPiFEFcTAsPPU6AIak2SI8n86FmzyrsAWCJ%2Bhz3Tz9WNkKW0Pv6U85R1JkJMx643j%2BS21N%2BqA%3D%3D&portalId=8422896) ###### Browse by category - [Link Management](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/link-management) - [QR Code](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/qr-code) - [Consumer Goods](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/consumer-goods) - [Retail](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/retail) - [Social Media](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/social-media) - [Connected Packaging](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/connected-packaging) - [Hospitality](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/hospitality) ## Related Posts [![Social-Network-Eliminates-Broken-Links-Globally-by-Switching-to-BL.INK](https://www.bl.ink/hs-fs/hubfs/Blink%20Compress%20Images/shutterstock_1612983571-min%20(1).webp?width=352&name=shutterstock_1612983571-min%20(1).webp) ](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/dynamic-link-creation-and-native-integration-for-social-media) [in Consumer Goods](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/consumer-goods)[in Link Management](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/link-management)[in Retail](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/tag/retail) [byAndy Meadows](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/author/andy-meadows) ### [Social Network Eliminates Broken Links Globally by Switching to BL.INK](https://www.bl.ink/customer-stories/dynamic-link-creation-and-native-integration-for-social-media) #### Four Ways BL.INK Improved User Experiences for this Social Network  The world's most widely-used... 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