I Don’t know what it is with retailers who sell networking gear in one department, content boxes IOT in another and smarthouse gear in another while at the same time failing to offer alongside these connected products the one product that makes all these products actually work better.
How about a simple home or office networking area where everything that is an add on to a network is offered in one department.
I have recently visited several retail stores looking at how they sell smarthouse control gear from lights to security to a plug that allows one to take control of a device. In some cases, the devices were sitting alongside a Google or Alexa voice speaker but the most important product the wireless router was missing.
Not once was I asked how old my existing Wi Fi router is or whether I was relying on a router supplied by Telstra or Optus which in most cases is limited in reach and speeds.
Retailers such as JB Hi Fi or The Good Guys need to push Wi Fi upgrades when selling anything that connects to a network whether it be a 4K Fetch streaming box, a 4K security camera or new appliances that need a network.
To really get performance out of a home network a consumer should have the latest router, it’s a key investment for any home especially as we now have Wi Fi 6 technology that allows a lot more devices to be attached to a home network while delivering.
It’s no secret that COVID-19 has affected nearly every industry across the globe, including those in wireless and mobile technology.
However, even with any hurdles or challenges that have arisen, industry professionals continue to innovate and enhance Wi Fi and home networking technology especially as a great many Australians are now working from home.
What is emerging in Australia is Wi Fi Vs 5G and while Telstra is struggling to deliver 5G, NBN Co is now working to get more fibre into houses and that calls for network routers that can handle the daily traffic going over a home network.
The two big Companies delivering the latest in network gear are D Link and Netgear and my recommendation is to stay away from Chinese brands such as TP Link and new products from Xiaomi, these are manufacturers of high-risk security products.
What’s coming this year and into 2022 is expanded 5G connectivity, smart office technology, and the continued rise of artificial intelligence.
Telstra and Optus along with Vodafone TPG are all pushing fifth-generation wireless networks.
Due to the growth in video calls and an emerging virtual global environment in which we now reside, the addition of widespread 5G will bring many benefits to the mobile phones and various devices we rely so heavily on.
5G networks dramatically improve upon already existing 4G wireless networks but only in limited locations.
The speeds and bandwidth of 5G will affect consumers delivering improved data rates, and faster download speeds, which can be up to 100 times faster than 4G.
Consumers will also benefit from 5G enabling them to connect more of their devices with fewer latency issues.
5G’s low latency will decrease the lag between weblink uploads or lags in video conference calls, for example, getting consumers their answers and needs faster, and helping businesses avoid those awkward pauses in their next virtual staff meetings.
Home Office
Nearly all businesses and industries in Australia and around the world have moved to a virtual setting in some form for the time being, with some using remote work indefinitely, as COVID-19 continues to surge across the nation.
Some businesses, however, will be looking to welcome their employees back to the office in some capacity in the coming months now that the vaccine has become available to people under 50 in Australia.
New technology from the likes of Logitech can help business owners create “smart offices” with a new generation of video call systems and cameras.
Businesses can maximize the efficiency of expanded 5G and the benefit of connecting more devices together by using Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which will run more effectively utilizing 5G and can make offices more connected and safer for employees in the COVID era and beyond.
We already use IoT devices — Fitbit watches, Alexa or Google Home devices, smart appliances — in our personal lives. The further development of 5G will allow office spaces to also benefit from smart devices. For example, fitness gyms across Australia are using crowd trackers to keep guests safe and distant during the pandemic.
A similar version is also available for office settings though this is set to be limited in Australia due to our low COVID-19 infections.
Back to Brick-and-Mortar Stores
People are returning to shopping in stores in Australia according to JB Hi Fi and Harvey Norman management.
The hiatus of customers in stores since the beginning of the pandemic has had drastic effects on retail businesses that once relied on in-person transactions. Customers have turned to chatbots, mobile apps, and other digital features to answer their questions and fulfill their needs, but these interactions have lacked valuable person-to-person engagement with in-store representatives.
As it grows safer to operate stores in a similar capacity to what we were used to, businesses will need to meet consumers where they’re at and adapt to new habits that revitalize their in-store customer experience strategies claim experts such as Chad Jensen the President of Round Room. He leads and invests in companies serving the wireless industry.
He claims customer service is important for customers, whether they are engaging with businesses and brands remotely or in person.
In recent research, 79 percent of consumers reported customer service is extremely important when deciding on where to shop and what stores to engage with. As customers begin to return to store locations this winter and beyond, businesses need to ensure their customer service, both in-store and online, is up to standard to meet customers’ needs and wants.
ChannelNews understands that the likes of JB Hi Fi and The Good Guys are looking at new customer service models that could see the stores taking responsibility for installing entertainment and appliances in a hone along with IOT gear.
Jensen claims that it’s likely that social distancing precautions and regulations will remain in place for some time, even as more people get vaccinated, but there are many ways to address this through technology.
For example, in-store employees can refer customers to online resources or apps that answer their questions more efficiently while in-store.
This can also decrease the amount of time consumers are in-store, which not only keeps consumers safe, but also means fewer in-store employees need to overload capacity rules. To continue to offer safe options to customers, stores can also utilize touchless options such as curb side services, touchless payments, buy online/pick up in-store, and more. Businesses that can adapt their customer engagement models to fit customers’ evolved needs since the pandemic began will thrive in our post-pandemic business world.
At the end of the day’ it’s networking and the efficiency of a Wi Fi or network in a home or business that is critical to the success or failure of an attached device. There is no point blaming your broadband provider or the NBN when you have old Networking gear.
