Wi-Fi has become an integral part of our daily lives, and we rely on it to connect to the internet, stream media, and communicate with friends and family. However, as more devices connect to the internet, Wi-Fi networks can become congested and slow, resulting in poor performance and connectivity issues. To address this, the Wi-Fi Alliance developed the Wi-Fi 6 standard, also known as 802.11ax, to improve the speed, reliability, and capacity of Wi-Fi networks. As retailers look to integrate their contact center’s omnichannel experience on to the floor of their retail stores using CCaaS platforms, Wi-Fi performance becomes even more critical. In this article, the team at Macronet Services explore what Wi-Fi 6 is, how it works, its advantages over previous Wi-Fi standards, and how retailers are benefitting from Wi-Fi 6 performance.
What is Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest wireless networking standard developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). It is designed to improve the speed, capacity, and performance of Wi-Fi networks, particularly in crowded areas with multiple devices. Wi-Fi 6 uses advanced technologies, including Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), to provide more efficient use of Wi-Fi bandwidth and reduce latency.
How Wi-Fi 6 Works
Wi-Fi 6 uses several advanced technologies to improve network performance, including:
OFDMA
OFDMA is a key feature of Wi-Fi 6 that improves data transfer efficiency. It enables the router to divide its available bandwidth into smaller sub-carriers, which can be assigned to different devices based on their bandwidth requirements. This means that the router can communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, and each device can receive the data it needs without interfering with other devices.
MU-MIMO
MU-MIMO is another critical technology in Wi-Fi 6. It enables the router to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously by sending multiple data streams to different devices at the same time. This technology allows for more efficient use of the available bandwidth and improves the overall performance of the Wi-Fi network.
Beamforming
Beamforming is a technology that allows the router to focus the Wi-Fi signal directly at a specific device, rather than broadcasting it in all directions. This improves the signal strength and reliability of the Wi-Fi network and reduces interference.
Target Wake Time (TWT)
TWT is a feature of Wi-Fi 6 that allows devices to enter sleep mode when they are not actively transmitting or receiving data. This reduces power consumption and extends the battery life of devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
Wi-Fi 6 offers several advantages over previous Wi-Fi standards, including:
Faster Data Transfer Speeds
Wi-Fi 6 is designed to provide faster data transfer speeds than previous Wi-Fi standards. With theoretical maximum speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps, Wi-Fi 6 is almost three times faster than its predecessor, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). This increase in speed is achieved with advanced technologies such as Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), which enable the router to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously and improve the overall efficiency of the Wi-Fi network.
Increased Capacity
Wi-Fi 6 has increased capacity compared to previous Wi-Fi standards, which means that it can handle more devices simultaneously. This is achieved with OFDMA, which allows the router to divide its available bandwidth into smaller sub-carriers, which can be assigned to different devices based on their bandwidth requirements. This enables more devices to connect to the Wi-Fi network without affecting the overall network performance.
Better Coverage
Wi-Fi 6 offers better coverage than previous Wi-Fi standards, thanks to the use of beamforming technology. Beamforming allows the router to focus the Wi-Fi signal directly at a specific device, rather than broadcasting it in all directions, improving the signal strength and reliability of the Wi-Fi network. This technology also reduces interference and ensures that the signal is not weakened by obstacles such as walls, furniture, or other wireless devices.
Reduced Interference
Wi-Fi 6 uses advanced technologies to reduce interference from other Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices. This improves the reliability and performance of the Wi-Fi network, particularly in crowded areas with multiple devices. Wi-Fi 6 also uses enhanced Automatic Frequency Selection (AFS) algorithms to select the least congested channel, which reduces the impact of interference and ensures a stable and reliable Wi-Fi connection.
Improved Battery Life
Wi-Fi 6 uses Target Wake Time (TWT) technology to improve the battery life of devices. TWT enables devices to enter sleep mode when they are not actively transmitting or receiving data, reducing power consumption, and extending the battery life of devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
Increased Security
Wi-Fi 6 includes improved security features, including WPA3 encryption and 192-bit security, which provide stronger protection against attacks and unauthorized access to the Wi-Fi network. WPA3 is designed to replace WPA2 and provides stronger encryption to protect the Wi-Fi network and the data transmitted over it.
How is Wi-Fi 6 used in Retail Store Environments?
Wi-Fi 6 technology is being increasingly adopted in the retail industry due to its improved speed, capacity, and performance. Here are some ways in which Wi-Fi 6 is being used in retail:
Faster Checkout Experience
One of the most significant advantages of Wi-Fi 6 in retail is its ability to provide faster checkout experiences. Retailers can use Wi-Fi 6 enabled mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) devices to process transactions faster than traditional checkout systems. These mPOS devices can communicate with the Wi-Fi network more efficiently, resulting in faster transaction processing times and reduced waiting times for customers.
Improved In-Store Experience
Wi-Fi 6 technology can also improve the in-store experience for customers. With Wi-Fi 6, retailers can provide a faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connection to customers, enabling them to access the internet, social media, and other online content while in-store. This can be particularly useful for retailers who offer digital coupons or promotions, as customers can easily access and redeem them using their smartphones or tablets.
Enhanced Location-Based Services
Wi-Fi 6 technology can be used to improve location-based services in retail stores. Retailers can use Wi-Fi 6 enabled beacons to provide customers with real-time location-based information and personalized offers. These beacons can communicate with customers’ smartphones and other devices, providing them with relevant information about products, services, and promotions, based on their location within the store.
Better Inventory Management
Wi-Fi 6 technology can also be used to improve inventory management in retail stores. Retailers can use Wi-Fi 6 enabled devices such as RFID scanners to track inventory in real-time, improving accuracy and reducing the time required to take inventory. This can result in reduced stockouts and overstock situations, resulting in improved sales and increased customer satisfaction.
Enhanced Security
Wi-Fi 6 technology offers improved security features, including WPA3 encryption and 192-bit security. This can be particularly useful in retail stores, where customer data and financial information is stored and processed. Retailers can use Wi-Fi 6 to secure their wireless networks and protect customer information from unauthorized access and cyber attacks.
Improved Employee Productivity
Wi-Fi 6 technology can also be used to improve employee productivity in retail stores. Retailers can provide Wi-Fi 6 enabled devices such as tablets to their employees, allowing them to access real-time data and information, including inventory levels, customer preferences, and transaction history. This can improve their efficiency and enable them to provide better customer service, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Better Analytics and Insights
Wi-Fi 6 technology can also provide retailers with valuable analytics and insights into customer behavior and preferences. Retailers can use Wi-Fi 6 enabled devices and beacons to track customer movements and interactions within the store, enabling them to understand how customers navigate the store, which products they are interested in, and how they interact with the brand. This information can be used to improve store layout, product placement, and marketing strategies, resulting in improved sales and customer loyalty.
Summary
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest wireless networking standard developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to improve the speed, capacity, and performance of Wi-Fi networks. Wi-Fi 6 offers several advantages over previous Wi-Fi standards, including faster data transfer speeds, increased capacity, better coverage, reduced interference, improved battery life, and increased security. These advantages make Wi-Fi 6 an excellent choice for both home and enterprise networks, particularly in crowded areas with multiple devices. As more devices connect to the internet and demand higher bandwidth and better performance, Wi-Fi 6 will become increasingly important for delivering fast, reliable, and secure Wi-Fi connectivity.
Wi-Fi 6 technology is being increasingly adopted in the retail industry due to its ability to improve the speed, capacity, and performance of wireless networks. Wi-Fi 6 can be used to provide a faster checkout experience, improved in-store experience, enhanced location-based services, better inventory management, improved security, improved employee productivity, and better analytics and insights. As more retailers adopt Wi-Fi 6 technology, customers can expect a more convenient and personalized shopping experience, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.
The team at Macronet Services has extensive experience in the design, sourcing, implementation, and ongoing support of global retail networks and Contact Center as a Service Platforms. Contact us anytime to talk about your IT initiatives.