A Wi-Fi site survey is a structured assessment of a building's wireless environment. It maps signal strength, interference, noise and capacity so that access points can be placed and configured properly instead of guessed.
A predictive survey uses floor plans and building materials in planning software. An on-site survey uses a laptop or tablet and a measuring tool to walk the space and record real signal levels, then produces a coverage map. A post-installation survey confirms the result. Walls, shelving, refrigeration, mirrors and metal fixtures all affect signal.
Stores use surveys to make sure handheld scanners, mobile POS and stocktake devices work in the stockroom and back corners. Hospitality venues use them to cover dining rooms, courtyards and kitchens where tablets and printers connect, and to handle crowds when the venue is full. Multi-site groups often survey one store, then reuse the same access point layout and settings as a template for new openings.
Surveys are most valuable before installation or after complaints of dropouts. Pitfalls include surveying an empty shop that later fills with stock, ignoring neighbouring networks, or choosing coverage over capacity. A venue with 200 people has very different needs from an empty one.
A survey is a small cost compared with replacing poorly placed equipment, and it gives a baseline for fixing problems later.