Why Wi-Fi is Important to Business

Over the years, the world of business has changed dramatically. Instead of sitting in offices, working for eight hours and then going home, many employees are leaving the workplace and travelling around the world – while completing their tasks at the same time.

With transport systems becoming more efficient, it is considerably easier for individuals to get from A to B. Consequently, companies should adapt to this change and ensure that employees can easily access wireless internet wherever they go.

If they fail to do so, their firm could be left behind – but just how important is this to the business world?

Travelling to meetings

Those who go to business meetings often spend a significant amount of time travelling. This can be on various means of public transport ranging from boats to planes and this could lead to lost productivity without Wi-Fi. As a result, they will probably want to get work done on the journey – especially if they’re travelling to an important conference or client.

Bearing this in mind, many public transport companies have looked into adding Wi-Fi connections. Various airlines offer internet access to their consumers, around half of the stations in the London Underground have Wi-Fi, and some train companies are attempting to improve customer service by using the Cloud – for example, First Great Western’s lounge at Paddington Station.

When preparing for a meeting, having internet access can be a lifesaver to some employees. Fortunately, it seems that many transport operators are starting to understand this.

Overnight stays

Many employees stay in hotels when they visit international clients or attend important conferences. As these people spend lengthy amounts of time away from the office, they can end up doing substantial amounts of work in their accommodation.

If there is no internet access, it can be hugely detrimental and they may find themselves wasting valuable time which could be spent preparing for their event.

To demonstrate how important internet access is for businesses, research has shown that workers will not go back to a hotel if it doesn’t offer a satisfactory Wi-Fi service.

It is fast becoming a statutory requirement for people to have a good, stable, and secure Wi-Fi connection in their hotel room, even in circumstances when they are not traveling for business. Ultimately, if they are there on a work-related trip, they are highly likely to need an internet connection to keep on top of their tasks.

What will happen if my employees don’t have Wi-Fi?

If a hotel, train, or other service fails to offer a stable and secure internet connection, travelers may be reluctant to use them again. Consequently, it’s essential that they offer Wi-Fi if they want to be successful and stay in business.

Of course, employers should ensure that workers can access Wi-Fi outside of the office. Otherwise, there could be serious repercussions – potentially meaning that staff cannot get work done on the journey or during their stay. As a result, this might cause business deals to break down or lead to employees not traveling to meetings.

Furthermore, staff will probably look into alternative methods for talking to clients, such as video conferencing. While this could lead to fewer missed hours, technical problems or failing to meet the client in person can scupper a business deal.

Therefore, it is absolutely essential for businesses to offer Wi-Fi wherever possible.

via Business 2 Community http://ift.tt/1mDvx7g