Recently, Tanaza’s couponing system feature was updated so that WiFi network administrators could enable users to see details regarding the usage of their WiFi vouchers once they’ve logged in to the network using a coupon code.
The couponing system feature allows network administrators to distribute WiFi vouchers to configure a coupon template, set a data limit, a quota limit, a duration, add an expiration date, and enable the “stop and resume” option. Thanks to the latest update of the feature, the network administrator can now also choose whether or not to show its WiFi user detailed data about their voucher usage.
Enable coupon data usage on your splash page
In order to use this latest update and share data with the users, the WiFi network administrator must enabled this update within the couponing system feature. Once enabled and the user authenticates using the WiFi voucher, they are shown detailed data about their voucher usage, such as:
Furthermore, This feature can be leveraged for both new WiFi users and for returning WiFi users, thanks to Tanaza’s remember me feature that automatically logs in users who have previously logged on to the network.
Practical cases for this feature update:
New users
Once they input the coupon code, new WiFi users will be shown the usage data (if enabled) the network administrator chooses to display and will then be redirected to a landing page.
Returning users (with welcome back splash page)
The Tanaza remember me feature allows returning users to automatically login to a WiFi network without the authentication process. A welcome back splash page will be displayed (as seen in the image above) automatically showing data about the voucher previously used to authenticate, the returning user will be able to see usage data,such as session time and the remaining upload and download quota.The welcome back splash page will not require re-authentication and will give users the option to choose when to connect by simply clicking on the connect button which will redirect them to a landing page, or to request to be forgotten if they wish to use another login method or another coupon to access the network.
Tanaza features a captive portal, allowing WiFi network administrators to create and customise splash page for public hotspots. Indeed, Tanaza splash page editor gives the opportunity to owners of a venue to promote and deliver additional services to WiFi users. There are many ways to leverage the splash page of a public hotspot, such as for example encourage WiFi users to download an application, leave a TripAdvisor review, follow a Facebook page or redirect them to another website.
By simply creating a redirection button to the download platform of an app (iTunes Store for iOS or Google Play Store Android) on the Tanaza splash page, a hotspot administrator can redirect WiFi users and offer them additional services. For example, a museum could promote its audio-guide application on its splash page, a restaurant could promote its “take-away” service application and a brand could promote its e-commerce app to people that are in its fashion retail shop.
Tanaza allows restaurant owners to increase their visibility on review platforms such as Tripadvisor, Zomato, Yelp, etc. Indeed, WiFi network administrators can customise the splash page, adding a redirection button or image to the restaurant TripAdvisor page. The idea is to encourage clients to leave a review about their experience in exchange for free WiFi. Another marketing idea could be to ask for a review on Tripadvisor in exchange for a free café for example.
When accessing a WiFi network, users have oftenthe possibility to connect using their social media account such as Facebook. In this case, a WiFi network administrator could ask them to like a page or to geolocate themselves in a location on Facebook. This allows the owner of a venue to increase his social visibility and to engage with more customers. To do this, simply enable the option “social actions” on the splash page settings.
We recommend you to ask whether for a Like or a Check-in to WiFi users. Indeed, there are three options when using social actions with the Tanaza hotspot system:
the first one is the Like only;
the second one is the Check-in only;
the third one is asking for a Like and a Check-in to WiFi users;
One possible scenario is that the user is asked for a “Like”, then connects to the internet. When connecting the second time to the network, depending on the settings, he’s asked again for the “Like” (if not done) or he’s asked for a check-in in a specific place. Find more information about how you should communicate about social actions in this article.
Tanaza allows WiFi network administrators to configure an external splash page and deliver additional services to WiFi users y adding an external radius server on top of the Tanaza infrastructure. This function is really useful in scenarios like in a supermarket, where the WiFi administrator sets up the social login or a login through a fidelity card.
Also, the external splash page can be used when WiFi administrators want to enable their own splash page or SMS gateway different from the Tanaza’s one.
To conclude, customising the splash page of a public hotspot is a fundamental step in the communication and marketing plan of any businesses willing to promote and deliver additional services to their customers. It allows businesses to offset costs of the WiFi infrastructure but also to enhance the final experience of their users.
Classic Hotspot system is now compatible with Cisco Meraki APs, indoor and outdoor.
The Classic Hotspot compatibility with Cisco Meraki APs enables WiFi professionals to utilize Classic Hotspot features on CIsco Meraki devices, without replacing the vendor’s firmware.
The integration between Classic Hotspot and Cisco Meraki APs enables Meraki Cloud Dashboard users to continue managing their access points from the Meraki interface while simultaneously using the Classic Hotspot captive portal. With Classic Hotspot, the WiFi network administrator can also customize the splash page of multi-vendor networks, composed of access points of different brands (including Meraki)from a single centralized dashboard.
Thanks to this new integration, Cisco Meraki users can set up free and paid hotspots with the Classic Hotspot captive portal. This means that WiFi network administrators will be able to create and customise their captive portals, collect data about WiFi users, and leverage their WiFi networks for marketing purposes.
The Classic Hotspot features such as the analytics dashboard, “remember me” and the splash page editor with its advertising tool and its multiple authentication methods, such as custom forms, social login and the couponing system, etc, will be available on Meraki-based WiFi hotspots.
This compatibility is still in BETA stage and is available on request for any Meraki devices.
If you would like to test out this new integration, please contact sales@tanaza.com.
More about Tanaza’s compatibility for high-end devices
Tanaza core is to provide an all in one software that empowers the feature set of 3rd party access points in the SMB range, adding an extremely easy to use hotspot software.
Since our customers, mainly channel partners, MSPs, system integrators, were extremely satisfied to use Tanaza for cost-efficient deployments and highly valued our hotspot features, they expressed interest in using it also with their more enterprise deployments.
WiFi is now a fundamental service developed in public places to enhance customers experience and engage with them. It is true that people are usually expecting to connect to a WiFi network for free. Nevertheless, in some particular cases, customers are willing to pay to access to the internet. Indeed, according to the Devicescape, nearly 25% of 3,000 people surveyed said that they could pay up to $3 an hour for WiFi.
Thus the main difficulty for an internet service provider when selling WiFi is to strike the balance between the price of WiFi and the service provided. We recommend WiFi professionals to configure paid hotspots only if there are not too many free hotspots in the same area. The WiFi network administrator has to bring an added-value to WiFi users to encourage them to pay. This could be for example the fact that there is no free alternative, or an extra capability for the user when browsing the internet.
The typical environments to develop WiFi paid hotspot are public places like airports, trainstations, hotels, conferences and events or holiday resorts. Indeed, by using the Tanaza couponing system, WiFi network administrators can manage the expiration date, the session duration, the number of allowed devices, the bandwidth per SSID and the maximum amount of data in download and upload, allowing them to suggest different offers to WiFi users.
One possible configuration in an airport could be to provide 10 minutes of free WiFi with limited upload data and then, sell coupons for unlimited WiFi session to WiFi users who need more. The custom splash page should show to WiFi users which are the different possibilities by displaying a message such as “use WiFi for free for 10 minutes. Buy a coupon for unlimited internet session”. Coupons can be sold directly to a front desk or through external splash pages featuring a credit card system or a PayPal platform.
The Tanaza couponing system allows WiFi network administrators to generate tons of coupon passwords quickly and to control the usage of these.
All details are stored on the dashboard such as the status (used/unused), the date of creation, the expiration date, the download quota, the upload quota and the number of devices connected. Coupons can also be invalidated or reprinted.
We recommend WiFi network administrators to configure at least two different public SSIDs: the first one with limited bandwidth, limited time session and a limited number of devices per user. The second one, with the coupon login mode, with unlimited bandwidth, unlimited time session and an unlimited number of devices per user.
Find out more information below in our Tanaza Couponing system presentation!
Why bandwidth control is key when offering WiFi at your store
Businesses in the retail industry are now using WiFi to enhance their customer experience and gather useful data about their customers. Though WiFi is a much sought-after service among shoppers, the key to providing a good and steady connection in a retail space and keep your customers happy is by controling the bandwidth consumed per user.
Consider that for every customer in a store, you can count on them carrying at least one device with which they connect to the internet.
By offering a free WiFi connection, or a connection in exchange of information or a social action, businesses can offer a greater customer experience while also collecting large amounts of data. Seems like a win-win, right? However, it isn’t enough to simply offer a WiFi connection, the objective is to deploy a stable network at your store that can handle multiple concurrent sessions. Especially for those customers who are always connected, and do not wish to use their own data.
Deploy a stable network at your store
To avoid offering a patchy, unreliable connection, it is best to start by managing your bandwidth. Though it can be difficult to determine the exact amount of bandwidth consumed by the users in your network, you can start by bearing in mind the types of internet applications are likely to use while at your location. These applications can range from low-bandwidth applications, such as instant messaging, to bandwidth hungry-applications, such as video streaming.
The best approach is to find a bandwidth limit per client that enables customers to navigate their preferred applications while at your store, without interfering with the connection of the other concurrent users. Since we know, this is not an easy thing to do and locations that offer free WiFi often have to suffer faulty connections as a result of bandwidth hogs, Tanaza has developed a feature that allows you to evenly allocate bandwidth within your location for all concurrent users.
How to control bandwidth per client with Tanaza
The recently released Bandwidth Control per Clientfeature, enables network administrators to set a per-user WiFi bandwidth limit. This feature is applied to all users at an SSID level and works on all types of SSIDs, whether users authenticate with a password (WEP, WPA2) or through a captive portal. The bandwidth per client set is the same for all users so that all users can benefit from the same WiFi performance. What’s more, in order to decide on the specific limit, you can use the data gathered on the Tanaza Dashboard to learn about your customer’s demographics and interests and thus decide on a bandwidth limit accordingly.
Avoid “bandwidth hogs”
One of the most useful functions of this feature is the “boost” function. With this function, users do not perceive that there is a limit on their bandwidth as it enables them temporarily go over the bandwidth limit. This is useful when your WiFi users stream music, buffer videos or video chat while they are connected to your network.
For example, let’s say a network admin at a retail store configures an SSID for guest WiFi with a bandwidth limit of 4 Mbps. If the WiFi guest performs any online activity that consumes large amounts of bandwidth, i.e. streaming video, the guest can temporarily navigate the internet at a higher speed, consuming more bandwidth than other concurrent users, before the bandwidth limit is reapplied. Thanks to this function, WiFi users can navigate freely without being disconnected if they exceed their bandwidth limit.
What makes this an essential feature for retail businesses that offer WiFi at their store is that it allows you to provide a parallel, ubiquitous connection to all the customers that connect to your network. A pleasant WiFi experience while shopping could also lead to customers wishing to stay longer at your store and wanting to return, customers sharing their personal contact information in order to receive promotional material, customer boosting your social presence due to an increase in the number of Likes and check-ins on your business’ Facebook page.
How to improve hotel WiFi with bandwidth control per client
Hotels should provide reliable Internet bandwidth to improve the overall guest WiFi experience. Tanaza allows increasing hotel WiFi network performance thanks to its newly-released Bandwidth Control per Client feature.
According to a recent survey carried out by Forbes, almost 50% of hotel guests consider free WiFi a top priority. Leisure travellers expect to find fast guest Internet access to browse the web, to stay in contact with their friends and family on Whatsapp and social media, to upload pictures of their vacation on Instagram and Facebook, to stream music and video content on Youtube and Netflix, etc. At the same time, business tourists expect reliable WiFi services to share files on Google Drive, perform video conference calls (VoIP and Whatsapp calls and real-time communication on Skype), access their email accounts, etc. As guest satisfaction is key to improve guest loyalty and hotel bookings, it is crucial to allocate hotel bandwidth properly.
In general, bandwidth consumption depends on a range of factors, mainly the environment of the hospitality venue, the number of concurrent users being connected to the hotel WiFi network and the type of Internet applications guests are using – from low bandwidth apps, i.e. web surfing and instant messaging, to bandwidth-hungry apps, i.e. video calls and video streaming. Given the increasing amount of WiFi-enabled devices per user, together with the proliferation of different internet applications, it is difficult to provide a smooth WiFi experience to all hotel guests at the same time. Tanaza helps hoteliers overcome this problem.
Tanaza has just released its innovative Bandwidth Control per Client feature, which allows hotel network administrators to set a per-user guest WiFi bandwidth limit.
Tanaza allows to limit bandwidth both per SSID and per user, at the same time. For instance, if the hotel IT manager has a total bandwidth of 25Mbps available, he might decide to allocate 20Mbps for guest WiFi on an SSID and the remaining 5Mbps for the hotel staff on a separated SSID. At the same time, considering the 20Mbps of bandwidth available for guest WiFi, he can decide to provide each hotel guest with 300Kbps.
With this new bandwidth control tool, network admins can now enable bandwidth upload and download limitations per user, at the SSID level. This means that all guests being simultaneously connected to the hotel network benefit from the same WiFi performance.
A unique aspect of Tanaza’s per-client bandwidth control feature is its ability to avoid “bandwidth hog”, the term used to identify users consuming more bandwidth than other concurrent users on the same WiFi network. In fact, Tanaza’s Bandwidth Control per Client feature comes with a “boost” function, which allows hotel guests to exceed the bandwidth limit for a few seconds when they use a WiFi service. For instance, let’s suppose that the hotel network admin configures an SSID for guest WiFi with a bandwidth limit of 3Mbps. When a hotel guest performs an online activity, i.e. streaming a video on Netflix, he will be temporarily allowed to use bandwidth over that limit. At the same time, for a few seconds, he will consume more bandwidth than other concurrent guests.
Thanks to Tanaza’s Bandwidth Control per Client capability, all hotel guests connected to the same SSID will benefit from the same fast and reliable WiFi experience, independently from their Internet usage. By successfully meeting guest expectations regarding WiFi performance, hoteliers can enhance guest loyalty and attract more visitors.
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Enable coupon data usage on your splash page
