From studying to shopping, banking to binging the latest Netflix show, it's no secret that the internet influences everything we do. In fact, without it, millions more of us would've been left unable to work as the ongoing pandemic forced us to work remotely.
We won't pretend the internet is all sunshine and rainbows. Giving life to things such as the Dark Web, the internet can provide businesses with a headache from a security perspective - and that's putting it lightly! But, it can - and has - transformed sectors, industries, organisations and even day to day lives. Like it or loathe it, you can't argue its importance.
Here, we'll take a look at the state of the internet before explaining why you should be investing in better internet lines for your business.
In comparison to today, the internet started with relatively humble beginnings, gaining wider-spread everyday use in the early 90s. I'm sure you can still recall the sound of your dial-up connection, only to have it drop out as someone used the house phone. And, of course, back then, businesses had less pressure regarding a digital presence.
These days, however, the internet is vital to everything, reshaping industries and everything from research to security or the way we work. Organisations such as Blockbusters have been replaced by services such as Netflix and Disney+, Amazon's steady rise has made several high street retailers redundant and, a business must have a digital presence. As for the internet, anyone with a smartphone can be online. But, an ever-increasing amount of services are now depending on the internet.
These days, the bulk of many business operations now take place online. Staff rely on it to work, and your customers may depend on it to pay or interact with you. So, it's for these reasons that it should now be business-critical to invest in the area.
Remote working sprung to record levels in light of the pandemic and has steadily proven itself to be a tangible, long-term solution for businesses and employees alike. So, when other factors such as video calls, streaming, chatting, Point Of Sale (POS) systems, or software are considered, it becomes clear why a business needs a fast and reliable internet connection capable of handling the rigours of the Digital Age.
It may help to think of your internet connection as being like a pipe - you need one big enough to handle everything that flows through it. As Popp Communications says, 'the bandwidth of your connection determines how large the pipe is. Each online activity happening in the office fills the pipe in an amount equal to how much bandwidth that particular activity consumes'.
Some organisations still choose not to invest in anything more than a standard package from a regular retailer, but this can now be doing more harm than good. The pipe for your internet traffic is considerably smaller and can quickly impact productivity, customer experiences, and the business on the whole.
So, which solution does your business need to turn to? We're here to put forward the only option that can guarantee both speed and reliability: a leased line.
You may have got to this part and thought, 'but, what is a leased line?' OhSo Technical describes it as a 'high-capacity dedicated internet connection leased exclusively by you or your business. With a leased line connection, you will benefit from 100% of the bandwidth because your internet connection isn’t shared with anyone else.'
There are several reasons why a business may consider investing in a leased line, but what are the benefits of doing so?
Leased lines are particularly effective at providing a business with high-speed connections to the internet - and the benefits don't stop there.
They can also help utilise VoIP technology as a telephony solution and provide bandwidth for remote workers using the network from various locations.
Our leased line experts have outlined the following as some of the other benefits that can come with using a leased line:
Naturally, factors to consider include the cost and time to install a solution. But, as digital transformation becomes a part of an increasing amount of organisations' strategies, can you afford to sit by and let your competitors strengthen and better prepare for the future?
So many businesses and organisations are dependent on the internet, so you can no longer afford to under-invest. Slow POS systems, intermittent office WiFi and unstable internet connections are all factors that could drive customers, and staff, away from your business - don't put yourself in that position. Invest accordingly and be prepared for the coming years.
Give us a call and speak to one of our leased line experts for a no-obligation introduction to Fifosys and hear how our services can help take your organisation to the next level.
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