Zebra and Aruba wireless experts talk about Wi-Fi connectivity in the warehouse
By Drew Ehlers | February 4, 2025

Is This Why a Stable Wi-Fi Connection Remains Elusive in Warehouses and Distribution Centers (DCs)?

I sat down with a DC operator and a Wi-Fi solution architect to understand why it often feels like such a struggle to get system settings just right (no matter how much technical investigation and adjustment occurs.) 

When it comes to Wi-Fi, “it is either a slow system or it’s working as it should. There’s no in between.

Willem Toren, Zebra’s Director of Operations for Distribution and Logistics in EMEA, made that clear when we were talking about his experience with Wi-Fi system performance in his high-tech, high-tempo warehouse setting.

A stable connection is a must within a facility like ours,” he continued before noting that a stable Wi-Fi connection can remain elusive, even if you’re doing all the right things.

For example, Willem and his team have restructured Zebra’s distribution center (DC) in EMEA twice to increase capacity and throughput. They’ve leaned into RFID, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), wearables, mobile computers, and other tech modalities to help frontline teams and operations leaders get their jobs done. And, at every turn, they’ve found themselves working extra hard to get the Wi-Fi network optimized.

We did multiple site surveys with technical experts to understand blind spots in the facility, replacing access points, fine tuning, working together with multiple technical teams from a Zebra perspective to understand correct settings, etc., etc. And still, after all this effort, peaks and drops occur. So, it is a struggle, especially with all those new technologies within the building.”

I asked Jörn Plümpe from HPE Aruba what could be done to help Willem and other warehouse and DC operators win this battle with their Wi-Fi systems, and he shared some ways that client matching and AI monitoring can assist:

As both Willem and Jörn called out, the key to improving network performance is to recognize the difference between a good and perfect wireless connection. Frontline workers start to accept slow, weak connections as normal and work around them. Yet, they shouldn’t have to. As Willem put it: “Technology should help the user and not be a burden.”

So, I hope the experiences and tips they shared in this podcast episode help you unburden your teams when it comes to managing Wi-Fi networks so that you can maintain the stable connection your frontline workers, robots, and other automation systems need to be effective. 

 

The transcript is also available here if you’d rather read the highlights.

Topics
Podcast, Podcast, Success Story, Interview, Public Sector, Manufacturing, Retail, Transportation and Logistics, Warehouse and Distribution, Energy and Utilities, Next in Wireless, Partner Insight, Handheld Mobile Computers, New Ways of Working, RFID, Software Tools, Wearables, Tablets,

Zebra Developer Blog
Zebra Developer Blog

Are you a Zebra Developer? Find more technical discussions on our Developer Portal blog.

Zebra Story Hub
Zebra Story Hub

Looking for more expert insights? Visit the Zebra Story Hub for more interviews, news, and industry trend analysis.

Search the Blog
Search the Blog

Use the below link to search all of our blog posts.