Emerging technologies are helping businesses reach goals in big ways.

Research shows that organizations using technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and Internet of Things (IoT) have increased their annual revenue by 58 percent. Financial companies using AI reported a 33 percent improvement in productivity and 37 percent reduction in errors after automating manual processes. And incorporating IoT data into supply chain workflows shortened order fulfillment time by about six days.

The internet is arguably an organization’s most important communication tool. Consider all the ways you rely on it each day. From checking emails and attending video calls to accessing the VPN and uploading/downloading files – the internet is the backbone of business processes.

Knowing when it’s time to move from traditional internet to fiber isn’t always straightforward. Slow, lagging internet can feel normal when cable speeds are all you’ve known.

The fiber switch

Sure, cable was fine for your business in the early days. You mostly used it for email, web browsing and a few office apps. But not now.

IT support is IT support, right? Nope.

An IT company with a strong support strategy doesn’t just plow through service ticket after service ticket. It helps customers meet their business goals.

What does that look like? For starters, it’s 24/7 support. It’s also a regionally based group of trained IT professionals assigned to your business who don’t just respond to service calls, but personally know your company.

Here are 3 tips for making sure your IT provider is part of your team:

Bandwidth is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the internet.

“Times have changed - communication has changed,” says Devere McLennan, co-owner of Ward Mechanical Equipment. “Business has sped up dramatically.”

As one of Mississippi’s largest HVAC product suppliers, the growing company needed an IT partner that would reduce the amount of time they spent trying to get their technology and communication tools to work.