Modern customers are often able to entertain themselves and even be productive while in a waiting room. While it may not seem important, providing Wi-Fi for customers is a huge benefit to both those waiting and to the business itself. Allowing patrons easy accessibility to amusement or work keeps them content while they wait. Happier customers typically spend more money in the establishment and aren’t in a rush to leave. Following are some considerations when setting up guest Wi-Fi.
Separate Networks
It seems like every week in the news is a report of an information breach at a business. For this reason, it’s imperative to keep customers off of the company network. Create an isolated guest network that has zero access to company applications and data. Many modern routers have this capability.
Use Passwords and Encryption
Leaving a guest network open is tempting, but ultimately may put customers at risk. It’s a better practice to establish a password that changes daily. This keeps casual hackers out of the network and reduces the chance of the network name being copied and spoofed by villains. Some companies have found great success and added an element of control over the network by requiring customers to make a purchase to obtain the Wi-Fi password.
The customer network may also be hidden from scanning results on customers’ devices, controlling access even more effectively. Use WPA2 encryption to help customer data stay safe if they choose to transmit passwords or credit card information while in the building.
Control
Some Wi-Fi routers and networking software allow filters to be established to prevent retrieving certain sites. Customers with children certainly would not want to see other patrons accessing adult content while waiting for their doctor or automotive service. Pirating sites like peer to peer downloading applications should also be blocked to protect the business from legal action.
While sales are typically higher for businesses offering Wi-Fi to customers, business owners concerned about loitering could impose a time limit on connectivity, or the idea of purchase-for-password can be expanded upon by setting a minimum purchase requirement to obtain the code.
Don’t lose customers to competition. Wi-Fi has come to be a basic expectation, especially in industries where wait time is necessary. By providing secure and controlled access to connectivity, revenue will increase and customers will continue to come back. For more information about creating safe networks that promote profitability, contact Copper State today.
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