busy mall where stores need a wireless site survey full of people walking around

Shortly after 2020 finished celebrating its new year, it braced for a pandemic. Telecommunications thus quickly became an essential service. School, business, home, and economic sectors required the connection that telecom provides. Without wireless connectivity, most businesses will have trouble attracting modern consumers.

Wireless devices provide secure and reliable access to data without the limitations of a wired network. As technology advances, so do restaurants and retailers’ options for wireless solutions.

However, to what extent are those dependable? All successful retailers understand they must adapt to the future of wireless technology to thrive. Yet the wireless trends anticipated in 2022 indicate that many of the same retailers must conduct a wireless site survey. Here’s why industry experts are indicating that retailers should invest in wireless assessments.

What is a wireless site survey?

Conducting a wireless site survey consists of a technician visiting and testing a site. Before the testing begins, they upload a floor plan of the business. The tech then follows the floor plan while simultaneously using software to capture and record data pertaining to the business’s wireless network.

The purpose of these tests is to find wireless issues relating to three different areas:

Number of access points

The number of access points needed for a business can vary. Having too few may not give customers and staff enough coverage or capacity. To produce a strong signal, an appropriate amount must be installed relevant to that business.

Location of access points

Once a business has the appropriate number of access points, they cannot be placed just anywhere. To ensure both coverage and connectivity, an access point should be placed in a strategic location. A poorly placed access point can be as good as no AP altogether.

Signal interference

Lastly, a business can have the correct number of access points in the right locations. However, if something interferes with the signal, it can affect the AP’s coverage and capacity. Objects in the way, electrical devices, and other networks all qualify as possible interferences.

Once the tech finishes obtaining the site’s data, they relay it back to their company. Experts put together a conclusive report that summarizes details pertaining to all wireless issues. In addition, the report holds professional recommendations on how to move forward by correcting the issues found.

 

example of a real wireless site survey showing access points and headmap of storeWhy do I need a wireless assessment?

At the height of the pandemic, the world embraced many wireless trends. Businesses knew that to stay afloat, they must adapt. This meant meeting new consumer needs. After a major event in world history, it’s no surprise that these changes proved to be permanent. Consumers found a new convenience in shopping habits and now prefer them over the old.

This comes as a relief to many business owners. Only a year ago, many invested both time and money during a pandemic to broaden their IT channels. Others even provided completely new business models to consumers while cities enforced lockdowns. Some of these new channels consisted of the following:

As we shift closer to 2022, businesses are discovering problems with their newly acquired tech. Moreover, many of the issues relate back to wireless connectivity.

A notable wireless trend in 2022 will consist of conducting a wireless site survey. A wireless assessment enables retailers and restaurants to improve their network design. With an audit, you ensure that the investments made in 2020 meant to enhance your business continue to work to the best of their ability.

A wireless site survey, therefore, addresses those needs not being met. See it as the technician testing the network infrastructure against the customer’s needs and those of your store associates.

Benefits of a Wireless Audit

  1. Decrease Costs

According to Gartner, the average cost of IT downtime is about $5,600 a minute. That’s about $300,000 an hour. When the network unexpectedly crashes, it can directly impact business operations. Disengaged employees cost the economy about $350 billion per year. By implementing better coverage, employees can better do their jobs and save you money.

Furthermore, by implementing wireless audits, you likely save more in the long-term. A significant reason why businesses turn away from audits is because they aren’t cheap. However, without fully understanding the complication, an unsuccessful remediation costs you substantially more. In other words, when you get it right the first time, you save money.

  1. Increase Store Efficiency

Thanks to the latest wireless trends, many employees can use tech to work throughout the store.

Mobile POS allows staff to conduct payments away from the register. Additionally, they can conduct payments anywhere needed, in-store or outside. For example, if the line to the register is too long, staff can begin conducting payments elsewhere. Customers can thus quickly make a purchase while maintaining the expectations of a speedy checkout.

  1. Boost Staff Productivity

An incredible 25% of site users will abandon a website if it takes more than four seconds to load. Now imagine that same mentality in employees who need to use the network.

Everyone hates slow WiFi, including employees. A survey from MonsterCloud indicates that 60% of employees’ biggest pet peeve is slow internet. A study by Sandisk reported that slow WiFi cost employees on average to lose about one week per year of productivity.

When staff has access to a stable internet connection, they not only work more efficiently but choose to slack off less.

hands of technician select heat map with wireless site assessment software in store

When should a wireless site survey be conducted?

Three types of wireless audits exist:

  1. Predictive Wireless Assessments

Techs perform predictive wireless site surveys before building the infrastructure of a new location. They do so to determine the best position of access points. By establishing the appropriate layout of the wireless infrastructure, businesses can avoid interference.

  1. Passive Wireless Audits

Although helpful, predictive wireless assessments don’t guarantee a perfect connection. Poor connectivity can still occur through interferences or inadequate AP installation. After the business finishes setting up, a passive wireless audit serves as an additional means to check wireless efficiency.

Industry experts recommend using both audit types before a business opens. This way, once fully operating, it is less likely to experience poor connectivity.

  1. Active Wireless Site Surveys

Technicians perform these types of surveys while the network operates. By completing them during operation, techs can determine the efficiency of several key measurements.

It is best practice to perform all three types of audits in succession. Even so, many retailers and restaurants did not get the chance in 2020. COVID-19 blindsided us all; the only appropriate actions we could take were swift ones.

During the pandemic, many businesses thus chose to quickly update their wireless technology. They either performed the audits inefficiently or skipped them altogether. Therefore, experts in the field are not only seeing increases in wireless audits but are also pressing businesses to consider investing in them.

Make Your Wireless Site Survey Swift with Worldlink

As the world continues to open, so do the opportunities for advancing your wireless technology. Effectively implement your tech plans with Wordlink Integration’s wireless assessments. Our team specializes in optimizing your wireless network to meet today’s wireless trends. If you’re ready to take your IT infrastructure to the next level, contact Worldlink Integration today. Let’s begin crafting a solution that best fits your needs.

Contact us to learn more, or give us a call at (949) 861-2830.