5 Signs Your Store Needs a New Wi-Fi Survey

Without frequent changes, most retailers perform a Wi-Fi survey every year or two. However, if your network infrastructure is experiencing challenges or undergoing new site-specific changes, it’s important to have a wireless network survey done more frequently. Outside of routine maintenance checks, here are the 5 signs your store needs a new Wi-Fi survey to keep your store operating at its best.

1. Your Store Wi-Fi is Lagging, Freezing, and Losing Signal

If your retail store is experiencing slow, freezing Wi-Fi connections and lost signals, chances are that you need a new Wi-Fi survey completed. Once a wireless site survey is finished, you’ll be able to pinpoint problem areas specific to your exact retail location.

A retail technology solutions provider and professional Wi-Fi survey helps discover:

• Areas of strong coverage and weak or dropped signals (dead zones)
• Sources of non-Wi-Fi interference or zone limitations
• Network capacity support and user limits
• Security issues (unencrypted networks, rogue access points, etc.)
• Ideal access points for mounting, cables, and retail equipment

Essentially, a new Wi-Fi survey addresses pain points with your signal and retail technology, so you can find the best solutions in the future.

Related Content: 5 Ways to Future-Proof Your Retail Technology and Business

2. You Relocated, Built a New Retail Facility, or Remodeled

If you recently relocated, built a new retail facility, or completely remodeled your usual space, it might be time for a wireless network survey. Many retailers assume their technology will work in any space and with any configuration. However, moving spaces or remodeling your store can interrupt the usual Wi-Fi connection strength and exacerbate dead zones—especially if your retail space is expanded. According to Ekahau, the only way to ensure whether your wireless network works as it should is through a Wi-Fi site survey.

To solve the new network infrastructure issues, a Wi-Fi survey offers troubleshooting for numerous challenges. Once the problem is discovered, it becomes easier for a retail technology professional to provide future solutions. Sometimes, all a business needs is a simple reconfiguration and access points. Other solutions might be to switch to 5G for retail or upgrade equipment.

Find Out Why Every Retailer Needs a Professional Wi-Fi Survey

3. You Want to Troubleshoot Tech Problems and Find Solutions

If your current retail technology is struggling to keep up with your business needs, the first step is to troubleshoot with a wireless survey to find solutions. Sometimes, the problem you’re experiencing might be as simple as adjusting your Wi-Fi network to accommodate your point of sale systems and retail technology. Other times, it requires a stronger Wi-Fi connection, extra access points, or faster speeds. Either way, the first step to address any ongoing issues is to run a Wi-Fi check.

4. Your Technology is Aging and You’re Ready to Upgrade

Even if you have the best Wi-Fi capabilities, you can still experience connection issues in your retail store—especially if your old equipment isn’t compatible. If your current POS systems and retail tech equipment are sluggish or out of date, even fixing your Wi-Fi connection can only help up to a certain point. Getting a network survey is the first step to troubleshoot your store location so you can cross off potential issues.

If your Wi-Fi and your retail technology is the problem, a retail technology solutions provider is your best bet to get everything you need. Our team at RTI can help. With comprehensive services for the lifecycle of your POS devices and retail equipment, we can help you source your ideal equipment, deploy and configure it for your location, and keep up with maintenance after installation.

Related Content: Enhanced Efficiency and Customer Experience with Next-Gen POS Systems

5. Retail Technology Was Upgraded and Installed

If you recently upgraded technology or switched to 5G for retail, you might need a new Wi-Fi survey. While you might think that the new equipment means you don’t need a survey, the new technology sometimes needs to be adjusted for your store configurations. The way shelving is set up, certain doors and walls between your Wi-Fi router and devices, and other unique configurations specific to your location can all play a role in the strength of your connection.

Solving retail technology problems and Wi-Fi connectivity issues is as easy as partnering with Retail Tech Inc. With our professional services, we offer services to complete a new Wi-Fi survey and help you source new equipment as needed. Whatever retail technology needs you have, we can help.

Get Started with a Wireless Site Survey