How to Prepare Your Business for Summer Wi-Fi Demand
Keep your customers connected with these considerations
“Can I connect to your Wi-Fi?” is a common question among consumers these days. And the customers who visit your business this summer—whether there for work or vacation—will be looking for ways to stay connected. For many, the availability of Wi-Fi is a major deciding-factor when choosing their next stop. Can your business provide the service those customers want?
A few basics you should cover
Companies want to attract as much business as possible, but establishing a Wi-Fi solution in the store could be more complicated if basic problems aren’t addressed. For large buildings, multiple access points might be required for maximum coverage.
Another common problem is interference via physical obstructions, signal confusion or outside electrical structures, such as weather stations or cell towers. These issues can deteriorate Wi-Fi integrity and strength. Mount access points on interior walls away from outside facing windows and in clear line-of-sight of customers to ensure a clear signal.
Ensuring wireless bandwidth
The more customers demand Wi-Fi access, the greater impact that’ll have on your bandwidth. Think in terms of highways: the more cars on the road, the more lanes of traffic required. Bandwidth is a measure of how many lanes of traffic have been established. The more people connected to your network, the more lanes you may need to ensure maximum uptime and avoid jams.
The best method of gaining more wireless bandwidth is using an 802.11ac protocol solution. Technology around this protocol raises the capacity of the wireless network to allow more users, improves overall speed and manages increased throughput.
Consider monitoring usage
As traffic increases on your network, it’s good to begin monitoring and managing the activity. Intuitive software tools and third-party managed IT solutions can provide your business with that data. These resources can identify how many devices are on the network, the type of devices, technical issues or roadblocks, and additional bandwidth required to accommodate more users. Understanding and assessing your Wi-Fi demands and requirements enables your business the opportunity to maintain high-level performance.
Think future
Most businesses focus on current demand when establishing or changing a plan. But it’s important to leave room for yourself to grow—not only in terms of employee and customer base, but also for the ever-evolving wireless market. New devices come out daily that require more bandwidth or more speed from your network. Whether updating direct lines to access points, using new cables or implementing a new Wi-Fi solution, lay the foundation to grow your wireless network over the next few years.
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