The five challenges SMEs face due to poor internet connectivity

Productivity

Productivity is the key to any successful business, so it is important for employees to be able to perform at their best – for this, they need to be able to rely on having a strong internet connection.

If the connectivity slows, then inevitably, so will work pace. The amount of time lost from having poor internet connection can have a huge impact on both the growth and results of businesses. 

It might seem like a loss of money by paying extra for a fast fibre connection, however, this is an investment that will improve the productivity in your business and lead to higher profit. 

Digital infrastructure

More businesses are switching to the cloud to reap the benefits of being able to deliver outcomes quickly and enhance innovation. However, using cloud solutions such as Salesforce requires a large consumption of data.

To make sure that an SME is using the cloud to its full advantage and getting everything possible from using it, broadband speeds need to be significant. If the internet connection isn’t strong, uploads will suffer massively and other online tools that your business uses will have a less than adequate performance. 

Internal communications

Staying connected with employees and keeping them updated with company and product information is vital to a smooth-running SME.

Internal communications rely on the intranet, email, e-newsletters and webinars to name a few, and so a weak internet connection can cause a big problem. 

One common cause of the problem in this area is the contention ratio, which slows down connectivity when a lot of people are trying to use one internet line at the same time. An example of this is if an employee survey has been sent out and staff are trying to complete it at the same time. 

The industry standard ratio is 20:1, although to tackle this issue, Glide offers a ratio of up to 5:1, this will ensure that everyone stays informed and ready to represent the brand and message more effectively. 

External communications

As well as internal communications, it is no secret that having a seamless communication with the customer is very important. Fast and reliable communication has become the norm in society, so individuals have come to expect the same from businesses. 

Having a strong digital communication platform, whether it be online contact or social media, is very effective for any SME. Being able to quickly interact directly with the customer is expected in the digital age and if a business is failing to meet this standard then it is missing out on a huge market. 

Buffering broadband

Buffering is an issue with latency which occurs when there is a delay processing data due to an internet connection.

Latency can not only cause issues with upload and download speeds, meaning that picture and video speeds are slow, but can have a significant impact on employees. The stress caused to those having to wait for buffering can affect staff morale and then, in turn, the business as a whole. 

To avoid the majority of latency issues, installing fibre broadband will make a noticeable difference and stop employees wanting to throw their laptop out of a window.