In today’s fast-paced business environment, outdated IT infrastructure is often a major source of frustration for both business owners and employees. Not only does outdated business infrastructure waste time and cause delays, but it can also limit productivity and impact a business’ bottom line.
As a business owner, implementing modern IT solutions such as cloud computing, high-capacity business broadband, and expert cybersecurity systems will allow you to spend more time running your business rather than dealing with IT issues.
A recent workplace productivity survey carried out by Currys found that British employees lose an average of 46 minutes per day because of slow technology, which equates to 24 working days per year, and approximately £2,752 in costs (based on the average UK salary).
If you multiply this figure by the number of workers you currently employ, the total cost could be quite staggering.
The Benefits of Upgrading Your IT Infrastructure
By investing in modern technology solutions, you’ll be able to create a more efficient and productive work environment, empowering your employees to focus on what matters most – delivering high-quality work and driving business growth.
Here are 7 ways investing in an improved business infrastructure will save you time and money:
1. Decreased Business Downtime
Outdated IT infrastructure and hardware systems are more prone to downtime, which can severely impact business revenue.
In particular, server downtime is known to cause huge issues for businesses as employees aren’t able to access important systems, files, or tools. Gartner found that the average cost of network downtime in the UK is £4,000 per minute.
Investing in the cloud will significantly reduce your chance of experiencing business downtime. By migrating to the cloud, your business data and applications will move to a virtual environment, eliminating the need for a physical, on-premise server.
With cloud services, data and applications are available around the clock. In the event of an outage, data is automatically transferred to another available server, minimising downtime. Additionally, cloud computing offers advanced security features and disaster recovery solutions, reducing the risk of cyberattacks.
At DVAD we offer a variety of cloud services including cloud back-up, cloud data storage, and cloud-based anti-virus software. Whatever your business requirements, we’ll liaise closely with you to find the ideal cloud-based solution for your problem.
2. Increased Cyber Security & Data Protection
Any data breach or cyber-attack will be costly and time-consuming for your business. Implementing a modern IT infrastructure will help to protect your sensitive business data and reduce the risk of a security breach.
As mentioned, migrating to the cloud is one of the main ways to improve your overall business infrastructure. Cloud services will improve your business cybersecurity by providing you with access to advanced security features and expertise that might be difficult to implement in-house.
Cloud service providers have robust security measures in place as standard, these often include: firewalls, intrusion detection, and data encryption.
Additionally, by having up-to-date IT software and hardware, you reduce the risk of vulnerabilities in outdated systems being targeted, minimising your chances of encountering a cyber-attack.
At DVAD we offer anti-virus software, spam filtering solutions, and firewalls to ensure your business data remains secure – whether you decide to migrate to the cloud or not.
3. Improved Collaboration, Communication & Mobility
Outdated infrastructure and on-premise servers often don’t support modern working methods such as remote working, which makes communication and collaboration between employees very difficult.
Improved business infrastructure and cloud-based services increase employee mobility by providing employees with secure and reliable access to business resources from anywhere in the world. This allows employees to work remotely, collaborate with team members from different locations, and access critical business resources while on the go.
By increasing employee mobility, you’ll be able to attract and retain top talent, improve employee productivity, and ensure effective communication.
4. Faster Loading & Processing Speeds
A key component of any modern IT infrastructure setup is high-capacity business broadband. A fast, reliable internet connection will significantly improve loading times and processing speeds, enabling your employees to operate more efficiently and effectively.
With faster internet speeds, your employees will be able to quickly access cloud-based services, transfer large files, and collaborate in real-time. This will help to reduce lag time and improve productivity, particularly if your business relies heavily on remote workers or online collaboration.
Additionally, high-capacity broadband will provide your employees with access to faster processing speeds, enabling them to quickly process data and transactions. This is particularly valuable if your business operates within the financial or healthcare sector, where large amounts of data are processed regularly.
5. Less Repairs and Maintenance
Investing in modern business hardware such as enhanced data cabling and audio visual equipment will save you time and money by improving the quality of presentations and meetings, reducing downtime and ensuring that equipment operates at optimal levels.
By upgrading to high-quality cabling, you’ll reduce the risk of signal loss, noise, and other issues that can negatively affect audio and video quality.
Modern audio visual equipment, such as projectors and sound systems, will also enhance communication and collaboration between employees, and reduce the need for equipment repairs, minimising associated costs.
The same can be said for other hardware such as PCs, printers, and business phones. Modern hardware solutions also help to make offices look inviting and contemporary, which will add to your business credibility.
6. Scalability and Flexibility
As your business grows and evolves, your IT needs may change. With a modern IT infrastructure setup, you’ll ensure your technology is scalable, flexible, and able to adapt to your changing business needs.
With cloud-based services, IT resources can be scaled up or down as needed, without the need for significant upfront investments in hardware or software.
Additionally, modern infrastructure solutions will provide you with a flexible and agile development environment, enabling you to quickly deploy new applications and services. This will be particularly valuable if you work in a sector that has to rapidly respond to changing market conditions.
7. Cost Savings
Investing in an improved IT infrastructure will result in significant cost savings over time by increasing business efficiency, reducing downtime, and minimising the need for costly repairs and upgrades.
By implementing cloud-based services, you’ll reduce your upfront investment in hardware and software, and only pay for the resources your business needs. This will help to reduce capital expenditure and operating expenses, as you’ll no longer need to invest in expensive on-premise servers or data centres.
Additionally, by providing employees with access to advanced collaboration and communication tools, you’ll improve teamwork and reduce the need for travel and in-person meetings, further reducing costs.
At DVAD we offer 8×8’s eXperience communications platform, which integrates contact centre, voice, video, chat, and embeddable communications. By consolidating all communications into one platform, you’ll slash your communications TCO (total cost of ownership).
Contact Us
As shown, an improved IT infrastructure will provide numerous benefits for your business, including decreased business downtime, improved security, and cost savings.
If you’d like to speak to us about modernising your business IT infrastructure, or any of the IT services we offer, please call us on 0800 84 999 84, or email us at enquiries@direct-voiceanddata.com.
