For the modern retail environment, having reliable Wi-Fi is at the core for everyday operations. Whether it's for mobile payments, accessing digital rewards, or simple in-store
browsing, customers and employees alike expect fast and reliable wireless access.
As customer expectations grow and operations become connected, retailers must ensure their wireless infrastructure is at its peak. But recognizing the need isn’t enough. Executing a seamless, multi-site rollout requires strategic planning, expertise, and the ability to deliver at scale.
Why Wireless Rollouts Matter
A strong wireless network is a necessity to drive business growth, as it supports everything from store operations to customer loyalty. With more than 80 percent of U.S. retail sales still occurring in physical stores (eMarketer, 2024), the in-store experience remains vital and depends on reliable, fast wireless infrastructure.
As retail technology becomes more reliant on real-time connectivity, the importance of a well executed wireless rollout only continues to grow.
The Challenge: Ensuring a High-Performing and Uniform Delivery Across 1,000+ Locations
As customer interactions became more digital, inconsistent connectivity led to a slower transaction process and operational inefficiencies. A national retailer with more than 1,000 locations was dissatisfied with the performance of their outdated infrastructure.
To address these issues, the retailer launched a full-scale wireless infrastructure update across their stores. The scope included:
- New wireless infrastructure across 1,000+ stores
- At least 50 access points per location
- Coverage across all key areas, including the sales floor, back offices, freezers and coolers, and the store exteriors
- A strict nine-month timeline for completion
These improvements would not only increase basic connectivity but also enhance the overall customer experience. Plus, these upgrades would lay the foundation for future digital initiatives.
The Strategy: An Expert-Led End-to-End Wireless Rollout
A wireless infrastructure rollout on a national scale requires a meticulous process that includes a strategic plan, coordinated strategy, and consistency across all locations. For this project, 30 two person deployment teams were assembled across the country to meet the strict timeline. Each team followed a consistent plan:
- Installed 55,000 Mist wireless devices
- Pulled new structured cabling
- Mounted new access points and completed access point cutovers
- Performed comprehensive wireless coverage surveys to ensure optimal signal strength
To ensure unbiased validation and consistent quality, wireless survey results were independently reviewed and certified by a third-party vendor. This quality assurance helped guarantee high performance wireless coverage throughout every store environment, including traditionally challenging areas like coolers and outdoor perimeters.
The Results: Seamless Experiences and Future Opportunities
Following the nationwide rollout, the retailer experienced clear improvements across their
operations:
- Smoother, more reliable payment processing with stronger POS connectivity
- A more engaging in-store Wi-Fi experience through customized splash pages
- Consistent, dependable network access in every zone of the store
- A modernized infrastructure designed to support future technology needs
The success of the rollout enabled the retailer to move forward with additional large-scale projects, confident in the reliability of their upgraded wireless foundation.
Partnering for Scalable Success
Whether you're upgrading a dozen stores or a thousand, the right deployment partner makes the difference. With proven experience in nationwide infrastructure upgrades, Wachter helps retailers execute large-scale wireless rollouts with speed, consistency, and precision.
Ready for scalable solutions and high-impact rollouts? Let’s connect here!