The Workplace Will Be Fully Digital in 2021: Are You Ready to Take the Leap?

For most companies, cloud computing and data backup aren't very high on the to-do list. However, if a small- or mid-size business isn't digitizing its data, it's only a matter of time until a malicious attack or a hardware failure will happen. How can a business owner tell if they're ready to make the switch? Here are a few signs that a company is prepared to go digital.

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Ample Connectivity

To run a successful digital workplace, a reliable, strong internet connection and good download speeds are crucial. Because most of the data a company backs up will be transferred across the wires, it's important to ensure there's enough bandwidth to move all those files. Without a high-speed connection, businesses may encounter slowdowns that hamper productivity. Click here to learn about our IT planning services.

Slow speeds also put cloud backups at risk, negating their benefits. If your company's internet connection isn't reliable, you may assume everything is being backed up, but some of those backups may be incomplete or corrupted. Before digitizing your workplace, ensure your internet speed is 10 mbps or greater.

Employees are Working Remotely

These days, the wide availability of VPNs and WiFi connections has freed workers from the dreaded cubicle, allowing them to work from home or anywhere else. If an employee has a good idea, no matter the time, they can act without heading into the office. When employees can work remotely, they are more productive, have higher morale, and tend to think more creatively. Once more workplaces become digital, employees can access the tools they need from anywhere there's a reliable internet connection.

Office Hardware is Nearing the End of its Lifespan

The hardware in an office plays a crucial role and is a significant investment. Servers warehouse data and make it accessible to employees. Routers provide the internet connectivity workers need to do their jobs, and firewalls protect office networks. No matter how great your hardware is, though, it has a finite lifespan. When that time ends, consider integrating small business cloud computing.

The Company is Moving or Has Several Locations

If the business has more than one location or is relocating, digitizing the workplace will offer benefits such as:

·         Reduced costs. As hardware reaches the end of its life, replacing it becomes a significant investment. Whether you're relocating or streamlining the company's network, going digital will help to reduce costs.

·         Eliminating redundancies. If your company relies on local network resources, expanding may mean buying more servers and routers to connect multiple locations. With cloud computing, these redundancies are eliminated.

Whether you're opening your first office or your fifth, digitizing the workplace will make the company easier and more efficient to run. From reducing costs to eliminating redundancies, going digital has numerous benefits.

Entering a Growth Phase

Growth is a thing every business owner should strive for, but rapid growth can be quite challenging. During these times, it's easy for a small company to outgrow its infrastructure. If your company is expanding rapidly or there are plans for future growth, moving to the cloud will make things easier.

In Closing

As the corporate landscape changes, more and more people are working from home. To make these arrangements work for everyone involved, small business owners should consider the benefits of moving to the cloud. In a digital workplace, it doesn't matter where you are because the cloud will still allow you to get things done.