There is no doubt that e-commerce and mobile devices are disrupting the retail landscape. Customers use a variety of tools, from websites to social media to mobile apps, as part of their shopping routines these days, and savvy retailers understand that they need to adapt to these modern developments in order to thrive. But, in order to implement solutions such as personal shopping assistance, virtual inventory and social connectivity, these retail establishments need one very important piece of technology as a backbone: strong Wi-Fi networks.
In the near future, retail stores will be connected hubs of customer engagement. When a customer enters a store, she will pass interactive digital signs, receive electronic coupons on her mobile device, and access information about products via electronic chips. This may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but it is closer than one might imagine. In order to achieve all of this – plus other technology like video conferences with sales associates, mobile point-of-sale technology, and smart shelf inventory solutions – the store in question must have a fast, reliable network connection.
Picture a day like Black Friday (News - Alert), the busiest retail shopping day of the year. Customers will expect and demand a strong, fast connection even on a day like this, and this store of the future would face a major crisis if its network went down. How, then, can retail stores ensure that they have the bandwidth necessary to address this kind of traffic? How can they ensure that they have a reliable, usable Wi-Fi network that can keep customers shopping and stop them from heading down the block?
The answers to those questions are provided by iPass Unity Network Services. It can future-proof Wi-Fi networks for retail establishments, making sure they have a usable solution that is truly reliable. They can work with companies to address specific needs, and in turn work with providers to handle necessary behind-the-scenes matters. With iPass (News - Alert), retail businesses can prepare their networks now and ready them for the future – because that future is almost here.
Edited by Rich Steeves