Is your business internet keeping up with your needs?

Here are the signs your internet may be holding you — and your business — back from the growth and success you envision for your company.

Delays or interruptions. If you or your staff are experiencing delays or interruptions when sending emails or downloading files, it could signal a capacity issue.

You may have insufficient bandwidth — or capacity — to handle the volume of internet-based tasks at your business and/or the number of users trying to access your network/wifi at the same time.

Your business may have outgrown the bandwidth you originally signed up for. Perhaps you've added more employees since then or have more customers using your Wi-Fi than previously. If so, it may be time to expand your bandwidth.

Determining what your business requires in terms of bandwidth depends on several factors, such as the type of internet "activities” or tasks being performed regularly, the size of data files, and the number of employees or total users.

Also, you'll need to get more bandwidth if multiple devices, i.e., laptop, phone, tablet, are connecting to the internet and additional capacity to account for peak usage times.

Slow Downloads or Uploads. Slow downloads or uploads may indicate you're having a speed issue — your business internet is just not fast enough.

Having to wait for data or platforms to load is frustrating and affects productivity. So if this is happening to you, it's critical that you assess your business internet and upgrade to faster upload and download speeds better suited to your needs, such as faster access to cloud-based software and seamless streaming and videoconferencing.

Internet speeds are measured by how much data can be uploaded or downloaded in a second. A download speed indicates how quickly information travels from the Internet to your devices, while upload speeds are how quickly information travels from your computer to the Internet.

Check out this guide to learn more about the ins and outs of internet speeds, including how to figure out what's best for your business needs.

Slow payment processing. Whether you're running a coffee shop, restaurant or other type of onsite retail business, you want the transaction process to be as seamless as possible each and every time.

Even a seconds-long delay in the payment process can have a negative effect on the customer experience, impacting not only the customer paying but those waiting to check out.

If your business is experiencing slow payment processing, pay attention — it could be a sign your business internet is unable to keep pace with your business and a speed upgrade is needed.

For more help on this topic, see these blogs on Internet Speed Test, What an Internet Speed Test Can Tell You, and How to Test Your Internet Speed the Right Way