It can be difficult to know when the right time is to upgrade your business internet solution.

There might be moments when you realise that your current internet solution, which was once perfect, is no longer suitable to the needs of your business. However, it’s also possible that you might be missing these hints that you’re ready to move on up to a better and faster broadband. 

If you’re wondering whether upgrading is the right move for you, we have some key considerations that signal you’ve outgrown your current broadband. If you can relate to any of these five areas, then maybe it’s time to take the leap and to get your internet up to speed.

You’re hiring more employees  

Adding more new employees than ever before to your staff is a good indication that your business is growing, but it also means more pressure is being put on your network. An influx of new employees is one of the most common reasons that you might need to upgrade to a better internet speed. If you don’t, your team’s productivity and your business as a whole might suffer. This is because the more people connected to the internet, the less bandwidth there is available to use and things will start to slow down. 

Even if your staff isn’t growing yet, upsizing now means that you’ll have the freedom to expand later on, without having to worry if you’ve got enough broadband for everyone to use.

You’ve established a Bring-Your-Own Device (BOYD) policy

With more employees come more devices connected to your internet. Company employees increasingly prefer to use their own devices to access company data so if you’re allowing this trend at the office, it’s time to start thinking how device overload could impact your internet quality. 

• READ MORE: BOYD Tips To Consider

Many employees will either have a smartphone or tablet connected to the server, in addition to their laptops. This can take quite a toll on your Wi-Fi performance. Review your current internet solution to find a package that offers sufficient bandwidth connectivity so that all devices can connect smoothly.

You’re migrating to the cloud

For cloud services adoption, internet speed must be a real consideration if you have many employees using hosting applications. The benefit of the cloud is that it offers better performance and is cheaper than traditional, hardware-based data storage. However, the cloud becomes a drawback if you don’t have the right connections that handle the demand for larger uploads and downloads. 

You’re using more apps and tools

There are hundreds of apps out there that can help your businesses operate more efficiently — from communication software to apps that support collaboration, and more. Unfortunately, all these apps (and their updates) running in the background can put strain on your network. If you want to continue using productivity tools you’ll need a powerful internet connection. 

• READ MORE: The Top Five On-The-Go Admin Apps

You’re sending larger files

Often, your internet performance dwindles because employees are doing more file shares. If your business is now required to send large audio, video, and graphics via the internet, a file transfer that takes a lot of time may signal a need for greater bandwidth. 

You are switching to VoIP

Voice calling is an inevitable part of any office and it can be incredibly rewarding to make the switch from legacy telephone systems to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Not only do you get clearer voice quality, and a host of advanced telephony features but there are also cost savings in store for your business. But these benefits can be yours only if your internet connection is good enough to support VoIP. This is especially important if you have multiple lines connected to your network.

• READ MORE: What Internet Speed Is Needed For VoIP?

How to upgrade your broadband

Whether you’re an existing client or switching from your old internet service provider, many ISPs will let you seamlessly upgrade to a more superior connection. When switching from another provider, check when your contract expires as you will have to pay an early termination fee. Some ISPs offer a self-service, allowing you to upgrade online via your account while others require you to call their customer service team or contact them via an online form. Simply navigate to the product page for the ISP’s fibre or wireless internet solutions, choose your desired new package (high speed uncapped Wi-Fi or fibre), then contact them for a free workplace assessment. The ISP will also let you know if you have fibre in your area if you choose one of their fibre packages. 

Final thoughts

These are some of the indicators that your current broadband package just isn’t working out for your business anymore. If you notice one or more of the six signs, it could mean that it’s time to move onto a better broadband solution.