By
December 05, 2019
Remember faxes, Rolodexes and being glued to a fixed-line phone? Back before the internet became essential to business, you may have thought that by 2020 we’d all be wearing jetpacks and holidaying on Mars...
Well, we’re not quite there yet, but the internet has certainly brought some incredible opportunities for businesses that we couldn’t have dreamed of even a decade ago.
Achieving your vision for the future relies on using the right tools today. This article will remind you how to harness the internet to be more productive, stay connected and save time by reminding you how slow-going it was just a decade ago.
The revolution of the internet
We take them for granted now but imagine doing business without email, video conferencing or online banking. It wasn’t that long ago...
Be more productive
While some days it may feel as if we’re never getting through our to-do lists, business productivity has grown in leaps and bounds during the last decade. Having a fast internet connection means far less waiting around for files to upload or download, and file-sharing platforms mean that large documents no longer need to be couriered. Can you even imagine waiting for your important documents to get to your client like you used to? Snail mail indeed!
The internet has also completely expanded our horizons when it comes to where we work from, both within and outside the workplace. Where before you would have needed to take a day or afternoon off when the kids got sick, you can now simply grab your laptop and work from home. And with a fibre broadband connection at home, can keep working while the kids stream their favourite shows!
Can you get better broadband? Head to our broadband checker to find out.
Stay better connected
The biggest change between then and now has to be in the way we connect with customers, collaborators and colleagues. Pre-2010 you’d probably have a Rolodex or business card holder on your desk. Today, all of your contacts are a message away on LinkedIn. And forget the hassle of a fax and the dreaded paper jam - now it’s a quick email or text message.
Businesses everywhere are liberated - you’re no longer chained to your desk with a landline, now you can videoconference with people from around the world.
Save time on organisation
While we don’t recommend breaking up with your accountant, you may be able to schedule much less face time with them, and less manual bookkeeping, thanks to cloud-based accounting tools like Xero.
It’s also possible for many offices to go paper-free (or get close to it), by storing files and collaborating on Google Drive or Dropbox. If you need a paper copy of a specific document, it’s easy to find and print it, instead of physically searching through filing cabinets. Now you don’t have to remember where you kept your filing cabinet key… but you do have to remember all of your different passwords.
How to prep your workplace for 2020 and beyond
Because of the internet, the average modern workday has changed beyond recognition. But having a fast, reliable fibre broadband connection dedicated to business is like taking another great leap forward. Knowing you have consistent speed and performance regardless of how or who’s using it, makes all the difference to what you can deliver.
There are now dedicated business fibre plans that give you that fast connection with excellent reliability, and heaps of bandwidth. Your videographer can share 8K video files while you’re presenting to a client in Tokyo, and your social media team are managing communities across your five channels - all with no drop-outs or unproductive waiting time.
Size matters. To work out exactly how much data your team needs in a business fibre plan each month, head to the handy Chorus Data Calculator.
Present peace of mind
Back in the ‘olden days’, when your internet went down, you didn’t know how long it would take for the technical crew to get it up and running again. In 2020 you can look forward to Business Restore – which gives you the peace of mind to know that if it goes down, it will be fixed within just 24 hours. Business Restore is only available on a business fibre plan though, so check with your ISP if you’re not sure.
A fast, reliable internet connection means better productivity, easier connectivity, and greater ability for everyone in the team to do their thing simultaneously. Prepare for the next 10 years by seizing every opportunity to increase productivity, raise your profile and reduce organisation tasks. It’s time to prime your business for 2020, and beyond…
Not sure whether your workplace can start 2020 with fast fibre? Visit the Chorus Broadband Checker.
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