Why every business needs a managed wi-fi provider

It’s no secret. We all want – and expect – Wi-Fi when we’re out and about. Today, everyone walks around with multiple devices, using multiple apps at the same time. We’re managing our banking, we’re watching the latest YouTube videos, we’re staying on top of email, and we’re doing it from wherever we are at the moment.

The need for public Wi-Fi has expanded well beyond hotels and airports, and it is now expected at venues of all types. It also provides a great opportunity for businesses to improve customer satisfaction, create new digital engagement opportunities, and gain valuable customer insights. However, just any Wi-Fi isn’t enough.

Taking advantage of these opportunities calls for considerations beyond broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal and letting anyone hop on and surf. Whether a business is a hair salon, an auto repair shop, or a restaurant, business owners may not have the time or expertise to manage their own Wi-Fi networks. However, there are three key reasons why every business needs to consider a managed Wi-Fi provider:

1. Risk management

Mitigating risk is important in all areas of business, and managing a Wi-Fi network should be no different. All businesses are concerned with addressing consumer privacy; however, there are unique considerations that must be addressed as they relate to the Internet. Consumer privacy expectations are an important topic in today’s news. It is considered a best practice in implementing public Wi-Fi, so that a user must agree to a Terms of Service (ToS) that usually incorporates an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This opens them to a serious risk.

2. End-user technical support

Business owners have enough on their plates without worrying about being their own “tech support.” Having professional help available, every hour of every day, spares that hassle. It lets owners focus on their core business, without the need for dedicated IT staff.   

3. Customer engagement

Managed Wi-Fi offers business owners another way to reach their customers. Videos, promotions, surveys, and other types of content can be displayed on the page customers see when they connect to the network, serving as a digital engagement tool for a business to deliver messages. One of the biggest benefits a business receives by offering public Wi-Fi is the potential to develop deeper relationships with customers and the capacity to improve its understanding of customer interests.