What can the Internet REALLY do for me?

Written by: Les Harper - Mar 13, 2010

What can the Internet REALLY do for me?

Surprisingly, businesses around the world are yet to appreciate the potential benefits that can be derived from investing in high speed Internet connectivity. They do not even seem to know why they should be investing valuable capital on it! When asked about their views on the value of high speed Internet connectivity for business, they are quick to point out—“the ultimate aim of business is profit. What profit can be derived from the Internet?”

Profits from high speed connectivity can be very visible.

The most visible aspect of high speed connectivity is the improved communication that happens. Suddenly, the cost of communicating with other branches of the business or with customers, suppliers and other kinds of vendors becomes a breeze. The cost of this improved communication is also nearly zilch.

Businesses that have branches scattered across geographical locations will be able to establish instant communication via email, video chat, instant messengers or a host of other Internet based applications that are available for free download on the World Wide Web. All they need is a high speed Internet connection and a browser. It follows that they can even dispense with the establishment of Local area networks of wide area networks and piggy back on the Internet for access to information across the geography.

The technology comes with a variety of options to cater to the needs of different kinds of business entities. High speed Internet can be made available via DSL lines, T1 lines, Cable connections, satellite connections or wireless. So geographically scattered organizations can establish Telephone and Internet connections at even remote locations where even telephone lines are not available via satellite based installations.

Organizations can set up exclusive data servers that are connected to remote locations via a public IP address or by getting some space on a server with a public IP address. Businesses that are cagey about sharing mission critical information online have the option of setting up virtual private networks using stringent authentication and authorization protocols, which operate via the Internet and prevent unauthorized access to information on the server. This facility saves the small business a packet of money that would otherwise have to be invested for creating a LAN or a WAN.

It follows that the availability of an Internet based data access facility provides the personnel with information anytime, anywhere. Sales personnel sitting at a client place can access the organization server via the browser and download the brochures, and specific information that the customer is seeking. He can also extract the customer profile information at the site and provide the customers with discounts and other facilities based on the history of the customer vis a vis the company.

The business can also take advantage of the immense potential of the Internet and create a publicly accessible face for itself. In other words, with a little more investment on the creation of a website, the small or medium business can compete on equal terms with its large competitors on the World Wide Web. The reach of the business geometrically expands as people round the world are able to access the website of the business and buy products online and offline. The market place is very large and this creates a whole new paradigm shift in the way in which the business is run and the way customers, suppliers, vendors and others get access to the products of the company and the way in which sale is done.

High speed Internet is a boon to small and medium businesses provided the potential is understood, appreciated and exploited!