Struggling to Get Your Broadband Circuits Installed and Keep Them Working?
Business success is the result of an effective strategy for gaining or retaining market share, operating profitably, and delivering experiences that delight customers and build their loyalty – but, in a world where internet connectivity is key to operations, it also depends on broadband circuits that are a part of the well-designed infrastructure.
More enterprises are digitalizing operations, evolving from paper-based, manual processes to connected, integrated systems that allow data to flow freely in real-time, for example, across stores in a chain, healthcare facilities and satellite offices, and transportation and logistics facilities. These networks give enterprises the advantages of centralized management, automated processes, and even new revenue streams, innovation, growth, and greater profitability. First, however, enterprises need to overcome the challenges created by installing, monitoring, and maintaining broadband circuits to attain those goals.
Some enterprises rely on in-house expertise to install and service broadband circuits. Others turn to managed internet service providers to build and service but look for budget options rather than value. Unfortunately, businesses learn quickly if their chosen strategy isn’t delivering the results they need.
The Burden Broadband Circuits Create for In-House Resources
Even if your team has experience installing and servicing broadband circuits, keeping the project in-house can monopolize their time and, possibly, cost more than using a qualified managed internet service provider.
First, purchasing circuits directly means your organization may not qualify for bulk pricing, which means you may be paying premium pricing for each circuit you need.
Next, your team will need time to provision and install each circuit in your facilities across vast geographic areas or even across the country, putting off other IT tasks that could impact productivity throughout your organization.
Finally, once circuits are installed, your team will bear the responsibility for ongoing maintenance and service. When a circuit goes down, your help desk will field calls, determine the local provider for that facility, open a ticket with that provider, and stand by while the provider troubleshoots the issue. And, while your team is waiting for this process to play out, the location with the outage is down and can’t connect to your enterprise as whole.
The Pitfalls of Working with Low-Cost/Low-Service Internet Service Providers
Instead of keeping broadband circuit installation in-house, you may determine that you need to outsource this work. However, suppose you base your decision on which managed internet service provider to use solely on price. In that case, you will likely have to invest more of your time and effort to ensure broadband circuits are installed and maintained. In addition, low-cost/low-service providers may not keep you informed about their schedules and when you can expect work to take place at your facilities, which can create confusion and disruption.
Also, it’s wise to read agreements carefully. For example, the provider may install internet circuits, but they may not agree to provide service when circuits fail. Moreover, most cut-rate service providers don’t offer remote monitoring services that detect and fix problems proactively so that you aren’t dealing with network downtime.
Additionally, keep in mind that you get what you pay for when you work with a provider that competes on price. The provider may source and install broadband circuits but won’t take a consultative approach to understand your business’ unique needs and make recommendations that help you build a network that supports your enterprise’s current operations and growth. It’s important to realize that if you choose a low-cost/low-service provider, you will essentially be on your own through planning and decision-making.
Best Practices for Installing and Managing Mission-Critical Broadband Circuits
In most cases, the best option is to work with a managed internet service provider with a practice dedicated explicitly to installing, provisioning, and managing internet circuits. An experienced and professional partner will provide you guidance as you plan your project – as well as transparency about what you can expect during installation and from ongoing services.
In addition, a managed internet service provider is an expert in logistics, so you can count on your partner to manage projects across the country with ease. The provider will also, in most cases, be able to offer you bulk circuit pricing due to the relationships your partner’s company had built with vendors and distributors.
Furthermore, top managed broadband service providers will monitor circuits and proactively address issues that arise. In fact, in many cases, their monitoring platform, integrated with a system that automatically generates tickets, will identify issues, notify their network operations center (NOC) and address problems before you even know they exist.
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The internet has become the lifeblood of retailers, healthcare organizations, warehouses, distribution centers — and any business that relies on cloud services or centralized management of chain or multiple locations. Contact DecisionPoint for more information on how to create the connected, digital environment your enterprise needs to stay profitable and competitive.
