APC Solutions Group - Wireless network blog

News just announced, Google will be providing up to 10 times faster Wi-Fi into US Starbucks chains. Starbucks has commented that its free Wi-Fi is one of the predominate reasons customers stay longer in its coffee houses and why it has become the brand of choice for Americans looking to do more than just grab a cup of coffee and go.

Google will also be looking to develop the Starbucks’ Digital Network, the first page consumers will see when they are given the opportunity to connect to the free wireless network. What an opportunity! You cannot escape this page; want to use the Wi-Fi? Then you have to type in your details; agree to the terms, conditions, and type in the password.

So how could this affect your business? I have recently upgraded my phone, now, whenever I walk into a coffee house, store or building that offers a Wi-Fi connection up pops the screen to log in and connect.

Then, I have the standard fill in your details screen. Now here’s the real opportunity to target your users. You can gather their email address to be used for future campaigns, tick. Target them with the latest in store offer, log on to our Wi-Fi, oh and here’s an extra 10% off today or fill in this survey and get a free filter coffee top up? The possibilities, as they say, are endless.

But it’s the follow through that really matters. It’s using this data to further improve your business. So last week your user connected to your Wi-Fi while having their MOT. But did you follow up with an email 11 months later reminding them to come back to you? This is the real crux of the matter. Providing free Wi-Fi costs a company money, therefore it has to offer something back to the business.

If you’re a coffee house this is obvious, it means people stay longer drinking their coffee and probably order another or a sandwich. But, are you likely to stay longer while having your car fixed? Probably not, but you may pick up some oil if an offer pops up, or book in for an air con re-charge as part of your service? It’s the added extras that bring people back to your business.

Having time off work to get your car serviced or MOT’d isn’t always possible, but saying you need to pop out, but you will log and do some work whilst having your car serviced makes it that little bit easier.

And we all have a coffee or lunch break, but how many of us really take it? Somehow, the act of checking your emails while you actually finish a sandwich rather than picking at it at your desk makes it that little bit easier to stomach. There are also countless studies to say how leaving the office even for half an hour can boost your productivity considerably.

So next time you pop out for a coffee, don’t feel guilty, just tell your boss Starbucks Wi-Fi is faster than the office and suggest they call APC Solutions to deliver a faster network?