Can your internet speed affect your business?
We all know how frustrating a lagging internet connection can be. Some of us may even remember the days when you had to unplug the phone and listen to the dial up connection (and even then, you would have to wait for each row of pixels to load line by line!). Fortunately, internet speeds have improved tremendously since those days, and we can now access the internet from (almost) anywhere. However, there are massive implications a slow internet speed can have on your business, and there are some key things to consider when choosing the internet connection and provider for your business.
How many internet-based applications do you use to operate your business?
We are fortunate to live in a world where the most advanced and user-friendly software packages are now available to anyone who has an internet connection. Gone are the days when you needed a floppy disk or CD-ROM to upload a piece of software on your computer.
How many apps and software do you run side by side daily?
- Office 365
- CRM systems like Salesforce
- Accounting software like QuickBooks or SAGE
- Cloud-Based Phone systems
- Payment devices like Square Pay
- Cloud Storage like Google Drive or Drop Box
- Microsoft Teams
It is highly likely that you and your colleagues use the majority of these (if not more) daily. This highlights the importance of strong internet connectivity, as slower speeds have a direct impact on productivity. We live in a world where we need access to everything immediately, a slow and unreliable internet connection is not only annoying and can cause distractions, but it is also a totally unnecessary and avoidable added stress that is so easy to eliminate.
What do your customers think?
If you are using an internet-based telephone system and you are speaking with a client, and your internet causes the phone system to crash, how will your customer feel?
If you are unable to give a caller the right information because your CRM system has frozen, how will they feel?
On the other hand, if your response times are quick and you can give your customers the facts that they need in a timely manner, how will they feel then?
It is clear to see how a slow or a strong internet speed can have a massive and direct impact on your customers. It is so important to ensure that they get the very best version of your staff at each interaction, and a strong internet connection is key in enabling them to do so.
Are your staff spending more time in the office?
Although home working was once a necessity, more and more people are now choosing to either work from the office several days a week, or even full-time. However, internet speeds can’t always keep up now. More meetings are taking place via software like Microsoft Teams than ever before, people are choosing phone calls rather than emails to get the information across quicker, and all of this is added pressure on your bandwidth. The way we work has changed, and now more people are utilising the office internet connection it is important to ensure that your speeds can keep up with the demand. It is crucial businesses have internet connection strong enough to support all their employees, regardless of whether that business operates a hybrid working schedule or not.
How would we operate our businesses without the internet? It is almost impossible to imagine. It is so important to ensure you have the internet connection your business requires to provide the best possible customer service and give your employees the tools they need to be productive. Speak to a member of our team today to find out if your internet connectivity could be improved.