As we’ve been discussing in our series of blogs on how the modern workplace is anywhere, whether your company manufactures mechanical parts or offers accountancy services, the strongest businesses now rely on cutting edge IT to operate as efficiently as possible. Technology can no longer be seen an inconvenience or “IT’s problem” – it’s the growth engine of successful businesses.
A well-harnessed technology infrastructure can provide a rich mine of data for customer buying patterns and cycles in order to generate more sales, reducing bottlenecks in processes in order to create smoother customer experiences, or simply providing employees with the right hardware and software tools to be able to work at their maximum, there’s no denying that tech plays a huge role in modern businesses.
In this latest edition of the blog, we look at the benefits of getting your business setup with a network that’s easy to deploy, operate, manage and scale, and the productivity benefits this can bring to your users. This can mean significantly less time spent fixing IT problems and more time improving business results and adding value in the areas identified above.
The burden on the network
By 2021, it’s anticipated by Cisco that 27 billion devices will be connected to the internet, and that 43% of network devices will be mobile-connected. This, and the additional demands of new applications will mean that 55% of businesses around the world will need to upgrade or deploy new data centres.
What does this mean for your business?
In today’s technological environment, it’s therefore vital to think of small business networking as an opportunity to reduce your operating costs and maximise users’ efficiency and productivity to grow business. Your network ultimately underpins your company’s ability (or otherwise) to react to changing markets and customer needs. It’s about being prepared.
In practical terms, routers and switches are the core building blocks for all business communications, as they can increase productivity, cut business costs, and improve security and customer service.
The benefits to small businesses of getting your network right
The right routers and switches allow your small business network to work anywhere – a range of technologies such as VPNs enable modern users to work securely at home, on the road, or at customers’ offices.
It can also improve your firm’s cyber security protection – no small thing in this age of unprecedented levels and sophistication of cyber attacks. A solid network infrastructure can reduce risk and protect valuable business information with a networked solution with switches and routers. For example, routers can protect your network with a built-in firewall and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) by using specialised software that examines incoming data and protects against attacks.
Operating costs can also be significantly impacted (positively!) on the bottom line through the deployment of the right switching and routing technologies. These savings can be made through the sharing of equipment such as wireless printers, internet access points, servers and services. A reliable network can also grow and scale appropriately with your business, which potentially saves on the costs and time of installing replacement networks as business needs increase.
The 8 simple benefits of a business-class network
• Speed of access to information in real time
• Enhanced customer service – see and respond rapidly to customer enquiries
• Secure access to customer data from anywhere at any time
• Be prepared for the future – the right network prepares your business for the addition of new applications as required such as voice and video
A secure voice and data network foundation enables your users to check email and voice communications all from one inbox. Consolidated communications not only saves time, but can also save up to 46% of operating costs according to analysts IDC.
Help navigating the minefield
The PAV team have selected solutions from the Cisco portfolio with many of our customers not only for Cisco’s longstanding position in their market, but because the ‘Cisco Designed’ portfolio is designed – and priced – exclusively with smaller businesses in mind.
We’ve found the solutions easy to buy, install, and manage for our customers, and with PAV’s help you can even try certain products before you buy by way of free, no-obligation trials.
Knowing you’re in the best hands of the world’s top networking company and the expert, local team at PAV provides you with the ideal combination to enable you to focus on running and growing your business, and providing technology innovation rather than focusing on ‘keeping the lights on’.
Give us a call at any time to find out more and see what the right network can do for your business.
