Why Every Retailer Needs a Professional Wi-Fi Survey

Modern retail equipment runs on wireless systems. Everything from point of sale (POS) systems to inventory scanners to security cameras and guest wi-fi runs from one point—a great internet connection. However, if something is going on within your retail store–just one thing slightly off—it can offset the entire balance.

Poor wi-fi is a huge problem because one small glitch can mean the entire store’s retail technology is freezing up, POS systems are dragging, and customers are experiencing a longer wait. If you’re wondering why every retailer needs a professional wi-fi survey, it’s one of the most necessary, most essential steps in the process to ensure everything is working as it should.

What is a Professional Wi-Fi Survey?

A professional wi-fi survey, also known as a wireless network survey, is an in-depth, methodical analysis of radio frequency coverage, capacity, and interference issues within a specified physical space. In retail businesses, this essentially means that a wi-fi and POS maintenance professional will check that everything is working accordingly on your retail floor.

A wi-fi survey is a highly detailed analysis that detects what’s working well and what needs improvement in your retail store or space. Two different types of wi-fi surveys can be done:

1. Pre-Deployment Wi-Fi Survey

This is done before deploying POS systems to ensure the retail space has the operability necessary for the point of sale systems and other technology. It’s essentially a step to ensure the space is ready for deploying POS systems and other devices. This step uses predictive modeling to show what’s needed for new stores and updated setups.

2. Post-Deployment Wi-Fi Survey

Post-deployment wi-fi surveys occur after POS systems and other tech are already installed. This is often used to ensure that everything is working as it should and is plugged in correctly. It’s also used for companies that are experiencing wi-fi issues like slow bandwidth, inoperable devices, and other challenges. This step ensures that troubleshooting occurs as needed for existing retail stores.

5 Critical Reasons Retailers Need a Wi-Fi Survey

For retailers, wi-fi capabilities are one of the most important checks you can make for your space. By ensuring wi-fi is operating as it should, it ensures that your POS systems and other devices are working properly and to the best of their ability. Here are the top 5 critical reasons retailers need a wi-fi survey:

1. Optimizing Essential Systems

Constant, high-speed connectivity is crucial for retailers when their entire sales are reliant on their POS systems and retail tech. When wi-fi drops frequently, it puts a huge strain on your employees and consumers in the moment.

We’ve all experienced it—that moment when you’re checking out and the POS system freezes. The employee usually waves it off with a shrug or casual statement about the systems being less than impressive that day. But it’s also frequently the cause of long waits that day, systems freezing or “being down,” and consumers simply not getting the quick, efficient experience they deserve.

By testing your wi-fi, you’re getting to the crux of the problem to ensure everything is operating as it should. With constant, high-speed connectivity, these glitches and transactional delays wouldn’t be happening in the first place.

Committing to a wi-fi survey test means that you can solve the root of the problem and ensure handheld scanners, mobile POS systems, and inventory devices work across the entire store—from the cash registers to the back office and stockrooms—everywhere you need them.

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

2. Eliminating Dead Zones and Interference

Shoddy wi-fi can mess with your entire retail ecosystem if you’re not careful. One small thing that’s off can start causing dead zones and interference that makes any retail job a nightmare. However, using a wireless site survey helps ensure your job is smooth sailing.

A professional wi-fi survey can help you identify and map areas with weak coverage (AKA dead zones) where your devices are more prone to failing (if they haven’t already). The test goes through your entire retail space with the intention to pinpoint sources of interference, such as microwaves, large metal fixtures, neighboring networks degrading performance, and other common issues. Once these are identified, a solution can be used moving forward to fix the wi-fi so you can start getting your best retail results again.

3. Future-Proofing and Planning for Capacity

Not only does a wireless site survey help with current wi-fi problems, but it can also help future-proof your retail equipment and plan for capacity changes. While your wi-fi might be holding up fine for now, there’s no promise that it can hold up during holiday rushes and with a large number of devices connected (like IoT, digital signage, customer phones, etc.).

Completing a professional wi-fi survey means that you can guarantee the infrastructure is prepped for your exact business needs and specifications. For example, a wireless site survey can check to ensure the infrastructure works with 5G retail devices for the most advanced customer experiences. 

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

4. Enhancing Security and Network Segmentation

Another critical reason that professional wi-fi surveys are necessary is that they can enhance security and network segmentation. Basically, a professional can adjust your network to meet PCI compliance requirements to secure sensitive data and separate networks accordingly for guests, your POS systems, and your staff.

A wireless site survey confirms access points are placed in the appropriate locations so your signal doesn’t go any farther than your building. That way, your data is properly protected. Having various wi-fi segments also ensures your consumer data stays safe and is separated from company and employee data. Essentially, this step ensures all the information can live under one roof as a big, happy family.

5. Proactively Solving Problems

Last, but not least, another critical reason retailers need a professional wi-fi survey is to proactively solve problems. Even if your wi-fi doesn’t currently seem like it experiences issues, there’s always a chance that there are underlying challenges that you’re not even aware of yet.

If your wi-fi randomly goes out at your retail store, and manual restarts aren’t fixing it, your wi-fi is too slow, or your performance isn’t exactly what it should be, you can check for larger problems that might arise later on. Maybe you have newly installed equipment that needs to be integrated or maybe you want to by updated equipment to improve the user experience.

Regardless, a wireless site survey can help you address things before they even become a problem.

Related Content: Why Choose an All-in-One POS Provider

What Does a Professional Wi-Fi Survey Offer?

• Heat maps and visual representations of wi-fi strength and coverage
• Specific recommendations for where to place access points (APs)
• A step-by-step remediation plan to fix coverage issues, gaps, and more
• Guidance on how to address interference problems
• Wi-fi performance, security, coverage, and other information
  
  

Prevent Downtime and Get Your Wi-Fi in Order

A wi-fi survey seems like an optional step to take, but it’s an investment in the well-being of your retail company. By figuring out any challenges right away, you can solve wi-fi issues and get the appropriate support as needed. This one step can save you and your consumers loads of time during checkouts and prevent costly downtime later on.

If you’re ready to partner with a team that you can trust, Retail Tech Industries is one of your best options. Our expert team offers comprehensive retail technology solutions that include completing a professional wi-fi survey on your network, finding updated POS systems for your store, implementing technologies, and so much more. If you have any questions, contact our team. Otherwise, explore our maintenance services.

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