Wi-Fi is becoming almost as critical to business as power and telephony, and some young companies are even forgoing wired connections altogether in favor of “wireless-first” workplaces. Even in older, well-established companies, Wi-Fi is changing the workflow in important ways.
1. Worker productivity is shifting.
Today the smartphones most employees bring to work have more processing power than the computers that were on their desks 10 years ago. And corporate Wi-Fi means workers can stay connected all day long without eating into their cellular data plans.
But do smartphones make employees more productive or less so? Of course it depends on the individual and the workplace environment, but in most cases Wi-Fi enables a shift in productivity. Workers no longer need to leave their desks to make a personal call because they can send a text message, but the fact they can text from their desks creates a potential distraction. Text messaging and mobile phone use was the leading “productivity stopper” named by respondents to a recent Harris Poll, with half of those surveyed saying phones reduce productivity in the office. Smartphones may make workers more productive outside the office, but their value inside the office is less clear.
For enterprise IT managers and CIOs, the important question about Wi-Fi and productivity is whether better corporate Wi-Fi empowers a more productive workforce or makes it easier to spend time on personal activities. The answer to both questions is yes. If connecting is easy, employees will use Wi-Fi for personal communication, but they will also stay on premise even when situations outside the office demand their attention. Managers like working with people who are easy to find when needed.
2. Security is now everyone’s job.
Firewalls and virtual private networks only go so far. If employees do not understand that a device used for work needs to be protected, security is at risk. Protecting a device doesn’t just mean keeping up with it. It also means employees need to know malware on their mobile devices can penetrate the corporate network.
No one downloads malware intentionally, but many of us have opened a corrupt file accidentally. If someone sends a virus to a work email address, but the recipient doesn’t open the email until he gets home, the corporate network’s security measures won’t be there to alert them the file can’t be trusted. If the user downloads the file and then logs onto the corporate network the next day using the infected device, the virus can spread.
The makers of Wi-Fi access gear are working hard to improve security at the device level. Cisco offers a Web-based device-management tool for its software-based routers, and Xirrus offers companies software designed to enable them to share their Wi-Fi networks with visitors in a secure way.
3. Retailers and distributors are becoming more efficient.
Corporate Wi-Fi has created a new way for retailers and distributors to communicate with employees and customers. Wi-Fi is used by warehouse workers to see which products to retrieve and where to send them. Smart shelves can use Wi-Fi to update prices. And high-end retailers are offering Wi-Fi to their guests to encourage them to stay longer and spend more.
Macy’s is using Wi-Fi to leverage the one big advantage brick-and-mortar clothing stores have over online retailers: dressing rooms. The company has an app that lets users request clothing from the dressing room so they can try on different sizes or styles without leaving the room.
Retailers are also using Wi-Fi to expedite purchase decisions and transactions. Mobile point-of-sale devices deployed in the aisles can enable customers to purchase items when they see them, and carry them out of the store without ever standing in line to pay.
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