The Different Upsides and Downsides of Offering Free WiFi [Infographic]

— September 7, 2017

Free WiFI is not a fad or a luxury anymore. Today, it has more or less become a part of the necessity. Previously, free WiFi was considered to be a perk that was offered ONLY in luxurious coffee shops. Not anymore. Now, we have the privilege of using free WiFi in almost every standard restaurant of our country.

Free WiFi comes with several pros and cons on the whole. You, as a businessman, needs to understand these in greater detail before you go on and hop onto that bandwagon. So let’s begin without further ado.

The Upsides

  1. Increased spend

Now that’s exactly what the doctor ordered; isn’t it? You, as a businessman, ought to love that more than anything else.

It has been found that 62% of people DID spend more time in organizations that provide free WiFi as a perk to their customers, in general. It has also been that the extra time is not just a waste. In fact, 50% of people have spent more money as a result of that extra time.

So what do you think now? There’s not even an iota of doubt that free WiFi can really boost your business revenue in the best possible manner.

  1. Free WiFi can help to reduce boredom

Today, people expect connectivity wherever they go. That’s probably the only reasons as to why grocery shops are also providing their customers with free WiFi at certain strategic locations.

Internet connectivity has ceased to be a part of the luxury anymore. Like bread and butter, it has already become a part of our necessity.

There is nothing worse than sitting and waiting for hours without having something to do, say, when the doctor is running late or when the flight’s delayed due to the weather. So what’s the best thing that you can do to alleviate such a situation under control?

The answer is “free WiFi.”

  1. Free WiFi can help in customer tracking

Free WiFi isn’t just a coup to attract more business over time, but it can also play a significant role in improving your back-end operations on the whole.

Free WiFi gives you the opportunity to track your customer visits, their length of stay, and their buying patterns. It can help you distinguish between loyal and regular customers based on which you can provide a more personalized shopping experience to your clients, in general.

So you see free WiFi can directly have a good hand in improving your entire business operation for good. If this is not a benefit, I seriously don’t know what is.

A few more mentions…

  • Free WiFi can help in an improved email marketing campaign (by providing you with a range of personalization options).
  • Free WiFi can help to up your customer service efficiency for good.
  • Free WiFi isn’t just an expense. It’s an investment having a high ROI. Don’t worry. It won’t burn a huge hole in your pocket for implementation.

For more details on free WiFi upsides, you may refer to the infographic below:

The Different Upsides and Downsides of Offering Free WiFi [Infographic] | DeviceDaily.com

Source- Inspire WiFi

The Downsides

  1. Slow speed

Too many people on a single network?

Now that’s a problem indeed because that would eventually result in slowing down of data speed which is a definite downside, in itself. What’s the benefit of accessing WiFi when the speed’s down to 2G? Honestly, I can’t think of any.

  1. Security threats

If you don’t secure your WiFi network from external threats, your network can very easily come under the radars of hackers for information interceptions.

Things like rogue APs or rogue hotspots can hurt your network beyond imagination. Hence, you need to keep an eye out for security threats like these and take appropriate safety measures to ensure that your company data and confidential customer information remain safe in capable hands.

Tip: Advise your customers to stop using your free WiFi network for sensitive information exchange on the internet (such as accessing bank accounts, credit card details, and other similar things). Small steps like these today can help a lot in saving a lot of hassle for tomorrow.

Also, beware of the risks involved in setting up a DIY business or a restaurant WiFi network. This infographic can help.

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