How high-speed internet makes all the difference to SMEs

Table of contents

The common pitfalls of poor connectivity

Next steps: Your high-speed internet checklist

Move from ‘good enough’ to ‘great for us’ with Focus Group

High-speed, dependable internet connections are now a norm – and necessity – for modern businesses. And in today’s fast-moving digital economy, those without them will struggle to stay competitive and reach their full potential. A staggering 86% of SMEs cited poor connectivity as having a negative effect on their operations in the last 12 months alone.

Every industry is different, and good connectivity is vital for driving business success. For example, retail businesses depend on fast, reliable and secure connectivity for seamless store-to-store collaboration. While in the automotive industry, super-quick connectivity drives productivity and supports complex IoT ecosystems. And for the hospitality sector, high-speed connectivity is vital for powering critical operations and catering to tech-savvy guests.

Thankfully, the UK government recognises the impact poor connectivity is having on the economy. In 2024’s Autumn Budget, the need for improved digital infrastructure was acknowledged as a priority for keeping the UK competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The Budget also highlighted the crucial role reliable broadband has in maximising productivity and connecting workplaces to the rest of the economy.

With the UK government now investing in the infrastructure, it’s the perfect time for SMEs to get on board. High-speed internet will help you to keep up with the competition through enhancements like:

• Accelerated productivity:The faster the connection, the more you can get done. With ultra-fast internet, there’s less waiting for pages or applications to load, giving your teams more time.
• Business-class performance: With a leased line, your business gets a dedicated, fixed-bandwidth data connection for complete peace of mind. It guarantees you receive ultra-fast, symmetrical upload and download speeds with reliable uptime and resilience.
• Rural reliability: Next-generation satellite internet enables businesses in remote and rural areas to access the reliable, high-speed internet connectivity needed to thrive.
• Smoother communications: Employees can easily keep in touch over VoIP and instant messaging – a real benefit for hybrid teams and for customer or client relationship building.
• Seamless collaboration: Tools like Microsoft 365 and CRM systems will benefit from smooth running without worrying about lag – helping your teams to quickly and securely share files or download information.
• Tough security:Real-time updates and backups are easier to complete with reliable, high-speed connections keeping them running.
• Support for scaling:As your business grows, adding more users to your network won’t tax your connection.

The common pitfalls of poor connectivity

When your internet connection is ‘good enough’, it’s easy to overlook issues until your productivity or critical business operations are impacted. Here are some of the most common warning signs that your connectivity needs a refresh:

• Buffering during video calls
• Sluggish cloud access and slow file transfers
• Wi-Fi overload during busier times
• Issues implementing new software and tools
• Regular system timeouts during critical tasks

So what’s the hidden cost of ‘good enough’? Almost half of UK SMEs believe poor connectivity has impacted productivity, while 65% think connectivity issues cause stress in the workplace. SMEs in London experienced an estimated £28 billion loss in annual revenue because of poor connectivity, with 40% saying it impacts their ability to serve customers.

Next steps: Your high-speed internet checklist

Ready to start assessing or upgrading your business connectivity? Here are the key considerations you’ll need to factor into your decision-making process:

• Connectivity: Does fibre, leased line or satellite best suit your location and usage needs?
• Speed: Are your upload and download speeds symmetrical, and can they support your tools, video calls and remote access demands?
• Scalability: Can the solution grow with your team as your business expands?
• Reliability: Is uptime protected with service-level agreements (SLAs) and fallback options?
• Security: Will your connection support secure access, firewalls and backup protocols?
• Support: Do you have access to expert, responsive support if issues arise?

Move from ‘good enough’ to ‘great for us’ with Focus Group

Our connectivity specialists do much more than sell internet packages – we carefully analyse your specific business needs, usage patterns and growth plans to recommend the perfect solution. Through our comprehensive connectivity audit, we’ll identify your bottlenecks to design scalable solutions that grow with your business. It’s how we’ll help you to drive ROI by reducing downtime, boosting productivity and keeping employees happy whether remote or in the office.

If you’d like support securing the high-speed connection your business needs for the future, then Focus Group is ready to help.

Get in touch to our team to get started.