Grappling with end user demands? Embrace truly agile technology

Advancements in technology and communication often come in the form of increased agility for the end user. Whether it’s being able to access all the tools and applications available in the office from a mobile device, or connecting instantly with colleagues across the globe, business consumers now expect flawless connectivity at any time, wherever they might be.

The ability to connect flexibly and efficiently has the potential to transform the way many people work, but by doing so, it’s presented a new challenge for organisations that rely on older, more static enterprise networks. What’s more, developments in consumer connectivity that includes 4G mobile signal, high speed public WiFi and easily accessible fibre-optic broadband at home, means that there’s even greater pressure on organisations to deliver the same standard of agility and connectivity in the workplace. 

In short, businesses and organisations need to provide connectivity solutions that meet the demands of an increasingly flexible, fast moving and tech savvy workforce. Their networking infrastructure needs to be agile, scalable and highly responsive, enabling users to work effortlessly in a virtual office environment, incorporate new applications efficiently and respond seamlessly to a growing business.  

This challenge is one that enterprises are well aware of. The Ovum UK enterprise survey[1] for 2018 recorded that 45% of enterprises see ‘limited features in a connectivity service’ as a primary concern for their business, with ‘slow set up or change procedures’ coming a close second at 43%. This self-identified need for greater network agility reflects how important it is that organisations continue to provide agile, responsive connectivity in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

The question is then quite a simple one: How do organisations provide secure, enterprise level solutions that fulfil the demands of their highly adaptable, tech savvy end users? 

Access to cloud services, as well as moving customers onto a workspace journey to embrace digital voice platforms and WiFi, are all readily available solutions within Virgin Media Business’ SMART Solutions portfolio. Each product addresses a different challenge, but crucially, they all do so in a way that promotes an agile approach to connectivity for end users. For example, Business Anywhere offers remote and flexible working to your employees without compromising on data security. By using the versatility of SIM enabled devices, mobile workers have instant, secure access to their corporate network without ever having to set foot in the office. 

Similarly, Virgin WiFi gives organisations the ability to provide ultrafast, reliable WiFi for public and corporate spaces, ensuring that clients, customers and visitors all benefit from a secure, seamless and high quality connection. The end result? Both of these solutions create an agile environment that empowers your end users, which in turn makes them more productive, flexible and above all, happier.

To a greater or lesser extent, each of these highly agile solutions share a common purpose: to improve the experience of the end user. Technology enables people to work flexibly from home, communicate with colleagues across the globe and access complex applications as if they were at their desks. It empowers the individual whilst helping organisations increase the collective efficiency and productivity of their workforce. In order to achieve this however, organisations need network infrastructures and connectivity solutions that can match the technological savvy of their users. This is the goal of truly agile technology; to provide organisations with solutions that facilitate flexible, secure and scalable networks, to help them adopt cloud based solutions and above all, give them the means to satisfy the demands of their end users. 

[1] SDN to SD-WAN: First Steps into the Future Network - David Molony, Ovum, May 2018