Broadband delivers opportunities to the workplace for cost-saving, productivity gains and innovation. Some examples follow.
Email. Messages are delivered and sent faster so less time is wasted watching and waiting. In fact, since broadband is always there in the background once the PC is switched on, email can be checked at regular intervals throughout the day, automatically. Communication at all levels becomes more immediate.
Large files. Sending and receiving large files, whether drawings, images, proofs, large documents or software upgrades, is not a problem with a broadband connection. Again, there's no waiting.
Web. The latest browsers provide facilities that work best with broadband. Tabbed browsing, for example, allows several favourite pages to be nominated and opened at once - not a realistic option on a dialup line. New technologies, such as live news feeds, are always there in the background and can be accessed without delay.
Research and learning. With websites loading faster and rich media sites accessible, research and training can be undertaken more efficiently.
Virus protection. The frequency of updates to computer virus protection programs and security patches, and their size, makes broadband a must for those who are serious about online security. Updates can be downloaded immediately.
Customer support. Staff who look after customers can be online and on the phone to the customer at the same time when answering queries.
Flexible working. Staff with broadband at home can be more flexible. They can work uninterrupted at home on occasion, to meet a deadline for example, and can still check email and connect with the office as normal. Teleworking is also facilitated.
Employee satisfaction. Staff appreciate broadband because it allows them to get more done, quicker and more conveniently.
From a hotels perspective broadband is an essential tool in helping us respond more quickly to the 24/7 flow of requests and information our business now endures. From a personal point of view I would be lost without it.
John Gately, Proprietor Country Club & Vienna Woods Hotels
