After the widespread commercialization of the modem of the 1980s, the concept of working remotely became a, well, “remote” possibility. For decades, however, the concept of working from home was more aspiration than application. That is, until 2020, when a global pandemic hit at precisely the time when broadband connectivity, videoconferencing, and collaborative platforms had come into their own. Fast forward to today, when fully remote and hybrid worker models now seem as commonplace as a daily commute. That’s not to say this seismic shift has come without its challenges.
Here’s how to fix some of the most common bottlenecks and speedbumps on your road to a more remote worker productivity.
Add HOV Throughput Lanes
One of the main issues for sluggish remote worker productivity is a lack of robust and reliable connectivity. If you’re still trying to squeeze all that remote work traffic, plus data processing, down “slim” COAX cables, early-generation routers, and old Ethernet cables, your throughput is bound to jam up. It’s not the software that’s gridlocked, it’s the line. It’s time to upgrade to a Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) solution. It’s like turning all data traffic lanes into high-speed, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) highway lanes. Yep, that’s a lot of “highs”—but your throughput and productivity will fly.
Make Sure Calls Keep Up
While most companies today have upgraded to some form of Internet-powered phone service, many small-to-medium sized businesses are still using outdated voice platforms and handsets. It’s common to upgrade computers and cell phones, but businesses often let their phone systems stall. Unfortunately, these lagging products don’t have the wherewithal to adequately serve today’s remote worker needs. It’s time to embrace today’s powerful Voice over IP (VoIP) and Hosted Voice solutions. The efficiencies you’ll gain will more than cover your investment. It’s the right call to make, right now.
Beef Up Your Security Details
Connecting remote workers beyond the walls of your building can feel like a risky move, opening your network to dangerous vulnerabilities. But as technology has advanced, so have the built-in protections found in most networking gear. This is a great time to speak to your Internet Services Provider (ISP) about building a digital fortress around you. One example is to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) with breach-resistant firewalls, which will safeguard company, customer, and employee data within, while keeping digital intruders out.
Equip Home Offices with Managed Wi-Fi
Now that you’ve revved up your business network, do the same for each remote worker…or each home will become its own chokepoint. The challenge: Everyone has different Wi-Fi setups. So, lift everyone to the same high-speed/high-volume level with Managed Wi-Fi Services. Not only will everyone be zipping along at the same speed, but you can also extend corporate network policies to these homes, ensuring company-wide consistency in access and protection.
Future-Proof for Scalable Growth
Lastly, don’t just fix your network for today; preplan for scalable growth for tomorrow. Explore next-generation networking solutions with your provider, like Cloud Connect Services, or deploying an SD-WAN (Software-Directed Wide Area Network) solution . These two advancements enable you to combine liberating cloud-based collaboration with real-time traffic monitoring and management, optimizing the bandwidth of your network.
Overwhelmed? No need to be. The right Telecom and Internet Services Provider will work with you to ensure you have all the options you need to run your onsite and remote offices efficiently and securely.
