Tim Tang, CFE

To fully benefit from guest WiFi, restaurateurs need to anticipate future requirements and design accordingly. Poor WiFi executions will hurt the brand’s ability to support customer engagement initiatives. Restaurants with inflexible, poor performing WiFi technology will be at a severe disadvantage and may eventually be forced to rip-and-replace their solutions to address new marketing efforts.

In-store mobility is bringing retailers exciting new opportunities to enhance customer engagement and loyalty but in turn demands high security and performance of store IT infrastructure. Retailers are able to create compelling customer experiences by equipping store associates with tablets and mobile POS devices. Customers are able to use their mobile devices to find product information and will seek out stores that facilitate this convenience. Both retailers and customers want to access rich… Show more

In-store mobility is bringing retailers exciting new opportunities to enhance customer engagement and loyalty but in turn demands high security and performance of store IT infrastructure. Retailers are able to create compelling customer experiences by equipping store associates with tablets and mobile POS devices. Customers are able to use their mobile devices to find product information and will seek out stores that facilitate this convenience. Both retailers and customers want to access rich media and video content while in the store. Stores must have a powerful network with the necessary capacity, security, and WiFi solutions to address not only today’s market requirements, but future needs as well. This white paper discusses how HughesON In-Store Mobility Solutions delivers this capability for retailers. Show less

Mobile technologies and online competitors have forced retailers to reconsider decades of retail best practices. In this new world, retailers face a plethora of omnichannel solutions, which promise to enable the consumer to buy what she wants, when she wants, how she wants. However, with so much focus on the consumer's smartphone, critical details are being overlooked.

EMV adoption remains in a holding pattern with U.S. retailers. While it may well be inevitable, the future is both uncertain and threatening for retailers. Banking executives would be wise to consider the issue from the retailers’ perspective. Indeed, it would better prepare everyone for what promises to be an expensive and disruptive transition.

The only thing worse than no guest WiFi is bad guest WiFi. As convenience store chains roll out WiFi to support new loyalty programs, deploy mobile payment initiatives and enhance the customer experience, many are realizing the consequences of a haphazard WiFi implementation: compromised customer satisfaction, sacrificed data security and operational challenges. Deploying WiFi in convenience stores is a technically complex, capital-intensive business initiative. Getting it right the first… Show more

The only thing worse than no guest WiFi is bad guest WiFi. As convenience store chains roll out WiFi to support new loyalty programs, deploy mobile payment initiatives and enhance the customer experience, many are realizing the consequences of a haphazard WiFi implementation: compromised customer satisfaction, sacrificed data security and operational challenges. Deploying WiFi in convenience stores is a technically complex, capital-intensive business initiative. Getting it right the first time is critical to avoid significant losses in customer satisfaction and store sales. Show less

quoted: Tim Tang, an executive with managed network service provider Hughes, told how we got into this sorry state: "Hotels haven't thought through their implementation of WiFi. Many people are using the same resource, at the same time. But the amount of broadband resources is insufficient for the demand. The first problem is capacity. Access is also a problem. It's a perfect storm for a miserable WiFi experience."

In a market where competition is fierce, turnover among staff is high, and consumer tastes are often fickle, enterprising restaurateurs are finding differentiation, employee retention, and customer loyalty through innovative uses of networking and application technologies.

Store networks have evolved dramatically over the past decade. What was once a simple private network designed to handle credit card transactions and support basic back office applications has transformed into a complex, open network required to support guest Wi-Fi and multi-vendor access, network security services, and distribution of many forms of multimedia content. This expansion in scope has challenged many retailers to redesign their store networks to satisfy new business requirements to… Show more

Store networks have evolved dramatically over the past decade. What was once a simple private network designed to handle credit card transactions and support basic back office applications has transformed into a complex, open network required to support guest Wi-Fi and multi-vendor access, network security services, and distribution of many forms of multimedia content. This expansion in scope has challenged many retailers to redesign their store networks to satisfy new business requirements to increase customer engagement in the store. Show less

We're used to going to the convenience store/gas station to get some gas and pick up everyday items. But today we also bank there, dine there, and in some cases even meet, read, and relax there. What was once a simple trip to buy gas or milk has become a multi-brand, multi-function retailing and entertainment destination. To tap into this new vein of customer demand, convenience stores will need to support an ever-increasing array of services and be able to provide them securely, efficiently… Show more

We're used to going to the convenience store/gas station to get some gas and pick up everyday items. But today we also bank there, dine there, and in some cases even meet, read, and relax there. What was once a simple trip to buy gas or milk has become a multi-brand, multi-function retailing and entertainment destination. To tap into this new vein of customer demand, convenience stores will need to support an ever-increasing array of services and be able to provide them securely, efficiently and, of course, conveniently. Show less

quoted : "What (operators) start to very quickly realize is that this is not a simple offering," Tang said. "It's a new discipline that's emerging rapidly and with its own set of clauses, such as technology details as well as regulatory requirements."

While operators may be tempted to opt for the cheapest solution, doing so may leave a restaurant without such safeguards as timely on-site troubleshooting or with 24-hour system monitoring, Tang warns.

"It really comes down to a… Show more

quoted : "What (operators) start to very quickly realize is that this is not a simple offering," Tang said. "It's a new discipline that's emerging rapidly and with its own set of clauses, such as technology details as well as regulatory requirements."

While operators may be tempted to opt for the cheapest solution, doing so may leave a restaurant without such safeguards as timely on-site troubleshooting or with 24-hour system monitoring, Tang warns.

"It really comes down to a question of being able to deploy a solution that you can afford, and also meet your requirements," he said. "All WiFi is not created equal." Show less