Continental Tires, a global leader in automotive manufacturing, recently embarked on a strategic rollout of SAP S/4HANA—a next-generation enterprise resource planning (ERP) system designed to centralize operations, improve supply chain visibility, and enhance decision-making across the business.
Before deploying SAP across their network of warehouses, production plants, and office facilities, Continental Tires prioritized a critical prerequisite: a full-scale Wi-Fi review. They recognized that poor wireless coverage or interference issues could compromise SAP functionality, especially for mobile scanners, tablets, and production floor systems dependent on real-time connectivity.
This case study outlines how Continental Tires conducted a comprehensive wireless infrastructure assessment to ensure the network was SAP-ready. It covers their process for identifying GHz spectrum performance, mitigating interference, optimizing access point (AP) placement, and implementing wireless best practices for a successful ERP rollout.

The Challenge: Network Readiness for Enterprise ERP

Continental Tires planned a large-scale digital transformation, centralizing operations under a single SAP platform. This involved equipping warehouse staff with mobile devices to track inventory, access live order information, and synchronize data directly with the SAP system.
However, wireless reliability presented a potential bottleneck. SAP applications – especially on handheld scanners and tablets – require consistent, low-latency connections. Even brief connectivity disruptions could delay order picking, shipment scanning, or production workflows.
To address these concerns, Continental Tires initiated a complete Wi-Fi review across targeted facilities before the SAP rollout began.

Step 1: Site Survey and Wireless Health Assessment

The first step involved a full site survey across the affected zones – spanning manufacturing floors, loading docks, stock storage areas, and administrative offices. This survey helped assess the current health of the wireless environment.

Key aspects of the site survey included:

• Signal Strength Mapping: Assessing wireless signal coverage in every area where SAP devices would be deployed.
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): Identifying zones where noise levels could impact device performance.
• Access Point Layout Audit: Reviewing locations, mounting height, orientation, and coverage overlap of existing APs.
• Physical Obstructions: Noting areas with steel racks, machinery, or thick walls that could block or degrade signal strength.

Preliminary findings:

• Inconsistent coverage in warehouse aisles and remote storage areas
• Overlapping channels on existing APs, especially in 2.4 GHz band
• Interference from industrial equipment and Bluetooth devices
• Legacy wireless hardware unable to support high SAP traffic loads

Step 2: Frequency Band Analysis – 2.4 GHz vs 5 Ghz

Key considerations:

• 2.4 GHz Band:
  • Better range and wall penetration
  • Limited to 3 non-overlapping channels
  • Highly congested and vulnerable to interference (e.g., from Bluetooth, cordless phones)
• 5 GHz Band:
  • Offers more channels and faster data rates
  • Shorter range but better performance in high-density environments
  • Typically underutilized in legacy deployments

The Wi-Fi review included a full GHz spectrum scan using RF analysis tools such as Ekanau and NetSpot. This helped identigy channel usage, signal quality, and interference patterns across both bands.

Outcome:

The 2.4 GHz band was saturated in most areas, particularly near breakrooms, production lines, and offices. In contrast, the 5 GHz spectrum offered cleaner signals and more available channels. The recommendation was to prioritize 5 GHz for all SAP-enabled devices and reconfigure access points to support band steering and device segregation.

Step 3: Interference and Channel Planning

Interference is one of the most common causes of poor wireless performance in industrial environments. Continental’s facilities had several sources of both Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi interference, including:

• Bluetooth scanners and headsets
• Cordless phones
• Industrial motors and machinery
• Microwave ovens and HVAC systems

Steps taken:

• Reassigned access points to non-overlapping 2.4 GHz channels (1, 6, 11)
• Tuned AP power levels to reduce co-channel interference
• Scheduled periodic background scanning to dynamically detect new interference sources
• Identified high-interference areas and adjusted AP placement accordingly
• Implemented shielding or relocation of APs near heavy machinery

Through these efforts, the team created a stable foundation that minimized dropped connections and ensured better overall performance for real-time SAP device usage.

Step 4: Access Point Optimization and Capacity Planning

Modern ERP systems like SAP S/4HANA depend on frequent data transmissions from multiple endpoints. For Continental Tires, this included:

• Barcode scanners feeding real-time inventory data
• Tablets and mobile devices running SAP Fiori apps
• Warehouse robots and equipment communicating order data wirelessly

To support this, the wireless network needed more than coverage—it required capacity.

Actions Taken:

• Increased the number of 5 GHz access points in SAP-intensive zones
• Configured APs with directional antennas for improved signal targeting in warehouse aisles
• Enabled band steering to move dual-band devices off the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum
• Configured load balancing to prevent APs from being overloaded in high-traffic areas
• Segregated wireless traffic using separate SSIDs and VLANs for SAP, guest, and general traffic

These optimizations ensured that the network could scale with increased demand during and after the SAP rollout.

Step 5: Roaming, Redundancy, and Quality of Service

Mobile users in a warehouse or factory often move between AP coverage zones. Smooth handoffs are essential for SAP devices used on forklifts, carts, or by mobile staff.

Enhancements Included:

• Fast roaming protocols (802.11r/k/v) enabled on compatible SAP devices to reduce latency during transitions
• QoS tagging and prioritization of SAP traffic across the network
• Redundant AP coverage in high-priority areas such as dispatch docks and staging zones
• UPS backup for key APs to maintain connectivity during power events

These improvements helped ensure continuous wireless service and reliable ERP performance across all operational areas.

Final Recommendations and Ongoing Strategy

At the conclusion of the Wi-Fi review, Continental Tires received a detailed report and roadmap for continued optimization. The document included:

1. Wi-Fi Remediation Plan: Detailed channel, signal strength, and AP placement updates
2. Configuration Templates: For controller settings, VLANs, SSIDs, and band steering policies
3. Device Onboarding Guide: Instructions for registering SAP tablets, scanners, and laptops on the correct network
4. Monitoring and Alerting Tools: Recommendations for real-time wireless health monitoring
5. Upgrade Path: Guidance on planning for Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E as part of future scalability efforts

These recommendations formed part of a larger IT readiness initiative aligned with the company’s global SAP deployment strategy.

Conclusion

Continental Tires’ proactive Wi-Fi review demonstrates how critical wireless infrastructure is to the success of modern ERP systems like SAP S/4HANA. In large-scale industrial environments, even minor wireless disruptions can lead to operational delays, lost data, or system errors.
By taking the time to assess spectrum usage, eliminate interference, tune access point configurations, and prepare for device mobility, Continental created a strong foundation for its digital transformation. This case study underscores the importance of aligning IT infrastructure with business application needs—especially when those applications are as central as ERP.
Whether you’re rolling out SAP, upgrading an existing system, or scaling your operations digitally, a comprehensive Wi-Fi review should be at the top of your checklist.