Retail WiFi Solutions

Retail is a competitive business. With many stores trying to stand out, strong Business WiFi provides an opportunity to give you the upper hand by helping improve daily operations, customer service and employee satisfaction. Learn how to choose a business Internet solution for your shop and how it can set you apart.

Choosing the right business Internet plan for your retail space isn’t an easy decision. Many aspects should be considered, including the scale of daily operations, number of employees, current and potential customers and seasonality. Keep these factors in mind before choosing an Internet provider:

Safeguard your business and protect customers with a retail WiFi solution that includes advanced security features, like firewalls, URL blocking and breach reports.

Between processing payments and offering free in-store WiFi, high-speed bandwidth is critical. Get a business Internet plan with enough bandwidth to support multiple users, devices and transactions during peak business hours.

If your retail business doesn’t have its own IT staff, you’ll need access to 24/7 customer support. Get help when you need it with an Internet service provider that offers around-the-clock help from experienced professionals.

Over the years, customers have come to expect free WiFi. Shopping in person while browsing online from a mobile device is common practice. Keep your private network safe from the open Internet and your customers happy with a separate guest network.

A point-of-sale (POS) system is the hardware and software businesses use to process payments from customers. While stores rely on cash registers, setting your system up to run entirely through business WiFi is easier than ever. All you need is a POS app and a WiFi-enabled device, like a tablet or smartphone, to get started. Here are a few factors you should consider before purchasing a POS system for your retail business:

There are two main software options you can choose from for your POS system: on-premise POS and cloud POS. An on-premise POS requires you to purchase a license to install software on your computer system. You will oversee updating and maintaining the software. A cloud-based POS allows you to access software available on the Internet on any device. Updates are automatically made for you, so less effort is needed to maintain the system. Both function with the power of business Internet.

Here are a few accessories you may want to purchase for your POS system:

• Tablet: Compact and portable, a tablet can help you process payments, track sales and clock-in employees while on the move.
  
• Barcode Scanner: Speed up the payment process by automatically pulling up product information.
• Credit Card Reader: Choose a secure and EMV-compliant credit card reader to protect your customers and retail business.
  
• Printer for Receipts: While some customers may prefer email or text receipts, others might still want a paper copy.
  
• Cash Drawer: For customers paying with cash, having a drawer ready with change is essential.

Ideally, your POS system should do more than just process payments. It should also make daily functions easier for you and your staff. Here are some features you’ll want to consider:

• Inventory Tracking: Avoid the tedious task of counting your inventory by hand and get a POS system to track your stock.
  
• Sales Reporting: Record sales data on your POS system to analyze how well your retail business is doing daily, monthly or yearly.
  
• Marketing: Keep track of your customers’ purchasing patterns and send coupons or sales notifications directly to them via text, email or direct mail.
  
• Employee Management: Use your POS system to track employee hours and sales numbers.

Retail WiFi solutions can easily be installed or set up by your business Internet service provider. Professionals help guarantee there’s consistent coverage throughout your store by installing access points where coverage is needed. Once you’re connected to the Internet, create a guest network for your shoppers following these easy steps:

• Using a computer or device that is currently connected to your Gateway, open your preferred browser and type your router’s IP address into the address bar.
  
• The IP address should take you to a page hosted by your Internet service provider. When prompted for login credentials, enter your username and password.  
  
• In your wireless settings, create a separate network for your customers or guests.
  
• Leave your guest network open or create an easy to remember password for customers to login.