One major challenge when working from home is staying productive. And the technology you’re using — particularly your Internet connection — can make or break your efficiency.
That’s especially true now, as remote work and distance learning have become part of everyday life for many people. With multiple household members relying on the same Internet for everything from video calls to entertainment, slow Internet is a common frustration.
“If you’re working from home — especially if you are doing a lot of phone or video calls over the Internet — you have to have a good Internet connection,” says Luca Jacobellis, president of the Atlanta-based, small business managed IT services provider, Onepath.
Here are some ways business owners can improve their Internet speed and productivity from home:
A DSL or a low-bandwidth broadband Internet connection designed for home use may be inadequate if you have a spouse, kids or other household members using the same connection for streaming TV and music, playing video games, distance learning and other work. How much bandwidth you need to maintain fast speeds across all your household’s devices depends on how many devices and applications are being used at once. And you don’t want to forget about mobile phones and connected devices that may be consistently relying on your home WiFi network.
Given the variability of home Internet use, consider upgrading your Internet plan to one that offers more bandwidth. That way you won’t need to worry about your Internet connection slowing you down.
Data-gobbling business applications, downloading large files and server hosting may cause a bottleneck on home Internet connections. However, a simple tweak of your home WiFi router controls can help.
“If you’re sharing a connection with your family, then consider using your router’s Quality of Service (QoS) settings to prioritize your own bandwidth over other devices in the house,” suggests Paul Bischoff of the technology research and comparison firm, Comparitech. Routers from different makers use various processes for changing software QoS settings, but the job is simple enough for many users to do themselves by logging onto their routers using a web browser.
If your company’s Internet reliance is high — and you’re concerned about your home Internet usage sapping your productivity — you may want a business Internet connection established at your home that can be used exclusively for business purposes. This lets you work efficiently without worrying about, say, a child streaming movies or video games in the next room over.
There are also a host of tools home-based business owners can use to make the most of the Internet. Good examples include the collaboration and meeting tools that can help you manage a remote team or communicate with customers. Those include tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex. “If you’re going to be working remotely and need to meet with a customer, you need a tool like that,” Jacobellis says.
Productivity isn’t all about connections and software. Working from home is more productive with the right home office setup and accessories. “That might include a desk, office chair, second monitor and a mouse instead of a trackpad,” Bischoff says.
Jacobellis recommends business owners consider a larger monitor and a headset to use when conferencing rather than relying on a laptop’s built-in microphone. “Their productivity could be down because they don’t have the right equipment,” he says.
Spectrum Business Internet offers plans starting at 500 Mbps and requires no contract. To learn more, call us at 855-299-9353.
