Reliable Store Network and Wi-Fi: The Foundation for POS, CCTV and ESL

In a modern store, the network is as important as electricity and lighting. The till system, card terminals, cameras, electronic shelf labels, people counters and staff handheld devices all depend on the network working. When it fails, you notice straight away at the checkout. Here we look at how to build a reliable and secure network in your store.

Why the network matters so much

A few years ago a router and a till were often enough. Today more and more systems are connected:

• Tills and card terminals
• Self-checkout and self-scanning
• Electronic shelf labels and their base stations
• IP cameras and recording
• People counters and video analytics
• Digital signage
• Handheld devices for picking, stocktaking and price changes
• Intruder alarms and access control
• Wi-Fi for staff and customers

The more systems that are connected, the more important it is that the network is planned rather than having grown piece by piece.

The building blocks of a store network

Internet connection

Fibre is usually the first choice where it is available. The bandwidth needs to cover every system, particularly if cameras upload to the cloud or the store uses cloud-based till software.

Backup connection

If the fibre goes down, the store may lose the ability to take card payments. A 4G or 5G backup connection that takes over automatically keeps the tills running. It is one of the most valuable investments for stores that rely on card payments.

Firewall

A firewall protects the store network from intrusion and controls which traffic is allowed through. It should be kept up to date and configured for the store's needs, not just left on default settings.

Switches and cabling

Equipment that stays in one place, such as tills, cameras and base stations, should be connected by cable wherever possible. Cable is more reliable than Wi-Fi. Switches with PoE, power over the network cable, make it easier to power cameras and access points without separate sockets.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is needed for handheld devices, tablets and guests. Access points should be positioned so the signal covers the whole store, including the stockroom and cold rooms, where metal and insulation can weaken the signal.

Segment the network

One of the most important principles is not to put everything on the same network. By dividing the network into separate segments, often using VLANs, you reduce the risk that a problem in one place affects everything else.

A common set-up:

• Till network: tills and card terminals, with strict access.
• Staff network: computers, handheld devices and printers.
• Camera network: cameras and recording, isolated from other traffic.
• IoT network: shelf labels, people counters, screens and sensors.
• Guest network: customer Wi-Fi, completely separate from the store's systems.

Segmentation also matters for security. A guest network must never be able to reach the till system, and a camera with vulnerable firmware should not become a way into the rest of the network.

Security

• Change default passwords on all equipment.
• Use strong passwords and personal logins for administration.
• Keep firewalls, routers, switches and cameras updated.
• Restrict remote access and use secure connections.
• Follow the requirements your payment provider sets for the till network.
• Document the network so it can be troubleshot and expanded.

Card terminals and payments

The card terminal is often the most business-critical device in the store. If it cannot reach the payment provider, you cannot take card payments. That is why the till network should be prioritised, so that payments are not affected if, for example, a camera is uploading a lot of video at the same time. Many stores choose to connect card terminals by cable rather than Wi-Fi, and to let the backup connection cover tills and payments first and foremost.

Shelf labels and cameras have their own requirements

Base stations for electronic shelf labels need a stable connection and power, often with a cable run to each base station in the ceiling. Cameras send large amounts of data, especially at high resolution, and should therefore sit on their own network with enough capacity. If these systems are planned in from the start, the installation is both simpler and more reliable.

Common problems in store networks

• Everything on one network: hard to troubleshoot and insecure.
• Consumer-grade equipment: routers and access points designed for the home rarely cope with the load in a store.
• Poor coverage: Wi-Fi that does not reach the stockroom or cold room makes handheld devices unreliable.
• No backup: when the fibre goes down, the tills stop.
• No documentation: nobody knows how the network is built when something breaks.
• No monitoring: faults are only discovered when staff pick up the phone.

Plan for the future

While you are reviewing the network, think about what might be added later. Is the store going to introduce electronic shelf labels, more cameras or digital signage? Run extra cables and choose switches with spare capacity. It is far easier and cheaper to do it from the start than to add it later.

Store network checklist

• Stable internet connection with sufficient capacity
• Automatic 4G or 5G backup connection
• Up-to-date, correctly configured firewall
• Separate networks for tills, staff, cameras, IoT and guests
• Cabled connections for tills, cameras and base stations
• Wi-Fi covering the whole store, stockroom and cold rooms
• Documentation of how the network is built
• Monitoring and a clear contact when something goes wrong

Monitoring and support

A monitored network can often flag problems before staff notice them. With remote access, many faults can be fixed without anyone needing to visit. For chains, it is valuable to see the status of every store in one place.

How StoreIQ can help

StoreIQ builds and looks after networks, Wi-Fi and firewalls for stores across Sweden. We split the network into separate segments for tills, staff, cameras and guests, set up a 4G or 5G backup connection and run cabling for cameras, base stations and tills.

With a service agreement, we monitor the network, keep the equipment updated and help when something goes wrong. Contact us for a review of your current network.