Opening a new store: the last-metre network checklist

A store opening often depends on invisible technical details: a missing network outlet behind the till, a poorly ventilated rack, an operator line delivered too late. The result: payment terminals that cannot take payments and blank screens in front of the first customers.

1. Operator line and security. Order internet access (fibre plus 4G/5G backup) as early as possible: it is often the longest lead time in the project. Plan the router, firewall and network segmentation (tills, guest Wi-Fi, equipment) with Avenir Protect.

2. Cabling and rack. Map every connection point on the floor plan: tills, POS terminals, Wi-Fi access points, screens, footfall counters, cameras, printers. Copper and fibre cabling is installed, labelled and certified by Avenir Infra, and the rack is sized, ventilated and UPS-protected.

3. Wi-Fi. Staff tablets, stock counts, mobile checkout and guest Wi-Fi all rely on radio coverage. A prior coverage survey places access points where they are needed, stockrooms included (Avenir Connect).

4. Last-metre equipment. Installation, configuration and testing of POS terminals, tills, digital signage, footfall counters and electronic shelf labels: the heart of the customer experience, delivered by Avenir Digital.

5. Acceptance before opening day. Every device is tested in real conditions: a test transaction on each terminal, content playback on each screen, Wi-Fi measurement, failover to the backup line. Photos and sign-off reports are shared with your teams.

Across a store network, this checklist becomes an industrialised process: same standards, same checks, same deliverables, from the first opening to the hundredth. It has been Avenir Systèmes’ job for more than 25 years.