Benefits of a Managed Wi-Fi Solution for Operations & Guest Experience

Please speak to the operational benefits of implementing managed Wi-Fi for restaurants?

The benefits of customer Wi-Fi are more obvious, but the extensive operational benefits that managed Wi-Fi offers can save time and money. For example, many restaurants struggle to hire and keep employees. That constant carousel of hiring leads to the need for ongoing training. Automating online training or mundane tasks like timesheets and shift swaps can increase employee satisfaction and streamline scheduling. Wi-Fi also provides wireless connectivity for automation through IoT devices like offering digital signage and menus. Wi-Fi can also be used for self-serve kiosks and cooking robots, which can leverage online ticketing systems for maintenance and troubleshooting. Other benefits include the need for less physical hardware onsite, which saves capital and maintenance costs. VoIP softphones replace physical phones and hardware; thus, fewer POS devices are needed as customers may use their cell phones instead.

How can a streamlined guest network enhance customer experience? 

The cloud and API nature of managed Wi-Fi provides a combined network and software solution, creating efficiency and a cohesive interface for customer use. Customers may use their cell phones to make reservations, peruse the digital menu, and place orders – all in one place. This frictionless customer experience through managed Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) offers automatic secure connections for multiple users simultaneously. Gone are the days of spotty Wi-Fi, searching for a Wi-Fi network, keying in passwords, and fighting over bandwidth. When restaurant guests can connect quickly and easily, this leads to increased satisfaction and return customers.

How does security factor into a managed Wi-Fi solution? 

PCI compliance and security are of the utmost importance for any business handling credit/bank card transactions. Today’s managed Wi-Fi solutions have built-in peace of mind and are easier than ever to implement. By combining technologies like OpenRoaming and Passpoint with certificate-based authentication leveraging WPA2/3 with AES encryption, Wi-Fi networks can be automated and simple for customers to use, all while protecting fundamental business interests and precious data.

Please speak to the roadmap and critical considerations for restaurants and bars implementing managed Wi-Fi?

API-based managed Wi-Fi solutions provide a stronger foundation of developers and network technologists working together to create better applications and overall user experience. Using managed Wi-Fi as a tool to provide data and metrics back to the business is becoming more prevalent. Wi-Fi can optimize staffing based on customer levels, reduce supply chain waste, and improve customer preferences. Empowering both the customer and employee through enhanced technology has experiential benefits, as well as positive cost-saving OpEx and CapEx ramifications. Wi-Fi creates frictionless customer experiences through encouraging the use of handheld devices for ordering and POS support, which builds “stickier” customer relationships. Managed Wi-Fi can be used to show patrons previous orders and preferences, up-sell or add-on items, and offer loyalty rewards. A well-designed Wi-Fi 6 network solution can support thousands of devices simultaneously, accessing the network with maximum response and without performance issues.

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