In today’s hyper-connected world, having a fast network is imperative. A weak network can slow down business productivity, affecting your bottom line.

What causes slow networks?

There are a variety of factors that can influence and affect your network speed. Your in-house IT team or your dedicated IT services provider can help you to check your network speed and figure out what might be causing it’s sluggish behaviour.

Examples of things that can slow your network include your network being infected with a virus, having the wrong type of router, not positioning your internet routers and boosters correctly, and having users downloading or streaming data-heavy content that throttles your bandwidth. 

Network infrastructure includes hardware and software like switches, bridges, gateways, repeaters and monitoring apps - all of which could be affecting your network speed.

In addition, you might just be experiencing slow internet speed because of your service provider or bandwidth plan you’re on not being correct for your usage.

How do slow networks slow business productivity

Slow network speeds and internet speeds can severely impact overall business productivity and can be very frustrating for anyone wanting to get work done effectively and efficiently. They can impede a businesses’ ability to communicate, collaborate, meet deadlines, perform daily admin tasks, and use cloud-communication tools like videoconferencing, VoIP phones and cloud desktops. 

Not only can this be stressful for anyone in your office to deal with, but it can lead to loss of turnover, can affect your customer’s sense of trust and loyalty, and can even affect your ability to retain great staff. 

It’s generally far more cost effective to fix your network speed, than to deal with the numerous negative impacts of not doing so.

1. Increase staff stress levels

If your staff are trying to do their work effectively, then slow or disrupted internet and network speeds can be stressful. When staff members are stressed, that can build up and result in mental health issues, which may result in staff needing to take time off work, or in an increase in sick days. 

Time off work can result in less work being completed, and can affect the productivity of other members of a team. 

2. Missing deadlines

Slow network speeds can also affect deadlines for projects and deliverables, particularly where collaboration is required. 

If your business reputation rests on providing work on time, then missing deadlines may not only affect productivity - but your bottom line and trustworthiness too. 

And it’s not just client deadlines that will suffer if your network speed is slow - any internal matters will also be affected as your staff won’t be able to perform their jobs efficiently.

3. Effects staff morale and retention rates

Slow network speeds can also lower the morale of your team, especially if their complaints about it impacting their ability to work effectively are ignored. 

Eventually your staff may get tired of not being able to do their jobs properly, and you may find that your company isn’t able to retain the staff that you’ve hired and invested in. High turnover rates can be costly for companies - and a much more affordable solution is to sort out poor network connections.

4. Inability to use cloud computers and apps

Nowadays most companies are moving to the cloud. Cloud technologies like virtual desktops, VoIP phones, or software-as-a-service apps rely on good internet speeds to transmit data digitally. 

If your network is sluggish, then your staff may struggle to use the technologies they rely on for collaboration and communication. For example, if you want to use Microsoft Teams to have a video call with a colleague, you may not be able to connect if your internet speed drops.

5. Delivery of poor customer service

If your organization needs to deal with customer enquiries, then you’ll need to be able to respond quickly to provide efficient customer service. Slow internet can prevent you from being able to do this - especially if all your communication systems are digital. 

Over time, if your business continues to deliver poor customer service, then this may tarnish your reputation and lead to a loss of business revenue and customers.

6. Video conferencing disruptions

Poor internet strength can affect the quality of video conferencing, which can be rather embarrassing if you’re hosting a meeting or showcasing a product or service to potential customers, clients, or partners. 

Poor connections can also affect the efficiency of team meetings, if people are late joining and constantly dropping off the call or having the video glitch mid-way through their turn to talk. 

Don’t underestimate the importance of having seamless communication abilities and how slow internet can affect the efficiency of meetings and therefore the productivity of your entire organisation.

7. Can result in reduced turnover

Weak networks can result in slow growth, which means you may struggle to meet your turnover goals. This is particularly pertinent for businesses that operate almost entirely online, like e-commerce businesses, media agencies, or digital consultancies. 

If your network is slow, your online customers may not be able to successfully make a digital purchase, or they may opt for a competitor who has faster customer service. 

How can my network speed be improved?

Luckily, slow network speeds don’t have to be a permanent feature in your organization. There are a variety of factors that affect network speed, and there are also many ways to improve it.

The first step is to check what your actual network and internet speeds are and then look at factors that may be affecting them. An IT service provider like NB Technology can quickly and easily run a speed test to determine your network speed. 

Network speed is influenced by a range of factors including your hardware, software and applications. Connectivity between your network devices and infrastructure may be causing a bottleneck that delays data flows and results in a weak network. 

It’s important to check your network planning and implementation for any outdated network hardware or software, and to ensure ongoing network maintenance if you want to optimize your network performance.

Here are other measures you can take to optimize your internet connection speed:

• Make sure that your antivirus software is up-to-date and that you have reliable cybersecurity measures in place
• Make sure that you have the right hardware for the job including the correct router and computers
• Monitor your network consistently to see when and why your speed is fluctuating
• Limit the amount of video calls, streaming services, and social media scrolling on your network
• Locate your routers and wireless access points strategically around your office to provide maximum coverage
• Implement any large software updates after work hours
• Consult an MSP to consistently monitor and optimize your network speed for you
• Make sure that no non-company devices are connected to your network
  

Are you ready to speed up your network?

If you feel like your network is sluggish and slow, then a good place to start is to have a speed test done and an MSP to do an on-site inspection to detect any possible activities that could be contributing to your slow network speed.

At NB Technology, we plan, design, implement, and help you manage your network environment for optimal performance and user experience. Our team of network engineers and experts have over 25 years of experience which you can leverage to assess your network system, pinpoint potential risks, and to get advice on how to speed up your entire network environment. 

Contact us at (704) 644-1220 for a no obligation consultation to discuss your network performance needs and any inquiries you may have. 

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.