Every business these days relies on the internet in some way. Whether you are running a restaurant, a book shop, a finance company, or a one-man consultancy service, you will need to be online at least some of the time.
While it can be tempting to sign up to the first broadband contract that comes along, there are good reasons why you should not. And if your current broadband is not up to the task, you should not cling to it either.
Here are six reasons why you should look for better broadband for your business:
1. Speed matters
Think about how much of what you do relies on the internet. Taking orders and payments. Managing your website. Processing invoices and staff wages. Doing your taxes. Ordering stock. And so much more.
If your broadband connection is slow, everything you do online will take longer than it needs to. And as the old saying goes, time is money. When it comes right down to it, a slow broadband connection is likely to hit you in the pocket. A faster connection means less frustration and greater productivity.
2. Downtime costs money
Reliability is the most crucial factor for business broadband. Quite simply, if your connection is not available, you cannot complete the tasks you need it for.
Of course, downtime affects businesses differently depending on what kind of work they do. But it is never a good thing. In some cases, it can cause thousands of pounds of losses, as orders cannot be completed, or customers take their business elsewhere.
When choosing a broadband provider, look for high levels of network uptime. The closer to 100%, the better.
3. Security is worth it
One of the major problems with being online is the risk of cyber-attacks. In 2023, a cyberattack took place every 39 seconds, which equals 2,200 cases per day.
In the fight against cybercrime, everyone must play their part – including broadband providers. While you can protect yourself by following best practice around internet use and passwords, broadband companies need to take care of security at the network level.
Make sure whoever is taking care of your connection is also looking out for your online safety too.
4. The future is digital
Your broadband connection is going to become even more important soon. In 2027, the UK’s old analogue phone network is being switched off. From then, all businesses will need to have digital, internet-based phone systems instead. Add in rising levels of video calling and file sharing, and it is clear you are going to need a connection that can keep up. You do not want to sign up to a long-term contract for a broadband connection that is going to hold you back in the years ahead.
Look for future-proof connectivity, which will be able to manage the extra demands of the digital future.
5. Competitive advantage
No business exists in a vacuum. Your competitors will be looking for ways to get ahead of you, so you need to do the same. Having a better broadband connection could be part of that.
If your rivals have faster, more reliable connectivity than you, they might be able to work more efficiently or provide better customer service than you. Unless you upgrade, you could fall behind. Always keep an eye on new and upcoming technology, so your competitors do not get the upper hand.
6. Pay for what you need
Sometimes, bundled services or added extras can be great. You can get your broadband connection, and then for a fee you can bolt on all kinds of wonderful products and services. But it is not so great if you do not actually need them, especially if you are tied into a contract.
Many businesses do not need anything more than a straightforward broadband connection (although they might want to add a digital phone service now or in the future).
But a good broadband provider will not try to sell you extras that are not useful to you. They will explain what everything does and why it is genuinely right for your business.
Get the connection your business deserves.
Broadband One is designed for businesses like yours. You can choose from a range of speeds, right up to a superfast 1Gbps over full fibre. It is backed by the BT network, so it offers availability of 99.999% – so you can be confident you will stay connected.
That speed and reliability makes Broadband One the ideal foundation for digital phone services when you are ready to upgrade to them. You will not have to change broadband later when the old phone network is switched off in 2027.
Broadband One is also fuss-free, without any unnecessary added. For more information about Broadband One, get in touch, and let us talk about getting you connected.
