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Summary
As organizations become increasingly aware of wireless networking's benefits, they are finding unique ways in it can provide competitive advantages. In all sorts of environments, companies are using wireless networks to stay connected to the information they need to perform better.
In an era in which instant access to information is a common expectation, network connectivity must be available wherever it's needed: indoors, outdoors, or in vehicles. Organizations of all sizes-and in a wide range of industries-are implementing wireless LANs to provide this access.
The goal, says Fred E. Cohn, deputy city manager for Monterey, California, is to create a wireless "cloud" over the entire community. With 485 employees serving a daytime population of 60,000, the coastal city has developed a fiber network that transmits data at speeds up to 1 Gbps and has networked its city office buildings, traffic signals, and schools. Building on this foundation, the city recently launched a three-year phased deployment of wireless networking, starting with its police department.
Monterey's plan: City police and firefighters will access data from vehicles, building inspectors will handle code enforcement at construction sites, and the downtown area will be interspersed with wireless hot spots.
"We plan to use the wireless canopy for telemetry monitoring and control of infrastructure in the field-park irrigation systems, alarms, security, and ball field lighting, etc. This will create substantial dollar savings in reduced energy and the staff costs to manage the systems," says Cohn.
Technology Advantages
Wireless networking offers small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) parity with the ability of larger organizations to access and process information. It can also provide a competitive advantage in even the unlikeliest of industries.
Red Bull Cheever Racing, for example, uses wireless telemetry and IP Communications to gain an advantage on the automotive racetrack. During the 2005 Indianapolis 500, a Cisco Aironet wireless solution offered the team engineers, pit crews, and drivers Patrick Carpentier and Alex Barron immediate access to real-time car performance data during the race.
"In a single lap around the track, we get nearly double the amount of coverage in the transmission of data from cars to engineers than any other team. This complete footprint of the track means we get crucial information when [something] happens, without delay," says team owner Eddie Cheever Jr.
"SMBs are leveraging wireless tools in new and innovative ways," says Aaron Vance, a senior analyst at Synergy Research Group. For example:
• Hospitals use Wi-Fi networks to let physicians, nurses, and other caregivers access and record information in patient rooms, treatment areas, and elsewhere in and near the hospital.
• Transportation companies track the location of vehicles and cargo, as well as communicate with drivers.
• Real-estate agents access property listings while away from the office.
• Government employees manage projects from the field.
Many organizations that have already implemented wireless networking want to take further advantage of it by adding applications such as:
• Guest Networking: Companies can set up a public network to provide access to suppliers, contractors, and customers.
• Asset Tracking: Location-based services can streamline the tracking of warehouse inventory or medical devices in a hospital, helping to eliminate excess, shortages, and delays.
• Voice over Wireless LANs: Workers use cordless handsets and unified messaging as they move around in a company facility.
• Outdoor Broadband: Airports and city sites allow employees and the public to access networks.
Bottom-Line Benefits
Wireless networks, says Vance, make it possible to speed business processes and improve service, reach new markets, and improve overall productivity-all while reducing IT and administrative costs.
A 2003 study of companies in the United States conducted by NOP World Technology on behalf of Cisco Systems found that wireless LANs delivered the following business benefits:
• Increased Productivity: The mobility allowed by wireless LANs increased users' access to the network by 3.5 hours per day,
raising employee productivity by up to 27 percent.
• Time Savings: The ability to conduct business whenever and wherever the employee requires it contributed to a reported time savings of almost 90 minutes per employee per workday.
• Financial Savings: Employees' time saved had an annual dollar value of almost $14,000 per employee. In addition, wireless networks do not require many of the wiring costs associated with traditional LANs.
Making the Transition
In 2004, 45 percent of U.S. businesses with 100 to 999 employees and 16 percent of businesses with fewer than 100 employees had implemented WLANs, according to AMI-Partners. The wireless LAN market will reach nearly $3.4 billion by the end of 2005, then rise another 78 percent by 2009, according to predictions from Synergy Research Group.
Find a solution that is simple to manage and offers a foundation for growth. Start by evaluating whether it can provide cost or efficiency advantages and what company functions it will benefit most. In some cases, a warehouse or logistics facility might be the logical starting point; in other instances it may be workers in vehicles, a public area, or a temporary work site.
"Wireless is well on the way toward becoming ubiquitous," says Vance. "It delivers powerful capabilities that can transform the way a company operates." |
