Factors to consider before investing in new technology

"Technology is an enabler - it can help a business improve efficiencies and even expand operations. The tools of business are constantly evolving and being reinvented. Yet many businesses don't have the budget to keep upgrading their systems or to regularly invest in new technology.

"On the other hand, survival of a business in today's increasingly competitive business environment may depend on the management understanding and implementation of advanced technologies," he says.

Trends making a tangible difference

Joubert points out that most business people are far more computer-wise today than they used to be. "Upgrading for the sake of upgrading may be wasteful, but entrepreneurs and executives should look for the trends which are said to make a tangible difference to business operations, employee productivity and overall efficiencies - and then adopt those that are right for them."

Joubert illustrates this by using connectivity as an example. Dial-up Internet access works. There are still many individuals and some small businesses that use it. But most people - and certainly most businesses - made the move to capped ADSL years ago because it was faster and more efficient.

Capped ADSL still works. In fact many businesses still use it. But a growing number of ADSL users have moved to uncapped connectivity, because it gives them the freedom to exploit the power of the Internet without concerns about running out of bandwidth and blowing the budget.

"MWEB has found that as businesses become aware of the huge potential of unfettered Internet connectivity, many have come to recognise that they need more than data capacity. They also need consistent higher speeds. This has led to growing demand for truly unshaped and un-throttled connectivity, and faster connections," Joubert says.

Demand for fibre connectivity

As a result, the old standard 384kbps connection has now become too slow for data hungry businesses. In line with this, MWEB Business has boosted its current entry-level connection to 1Mbps and introduced a 2Mbps option. However, growing numbers of customers are opting for 4Mbps and 10Mbps, particularly as these offerings have become more affordable.

"MWEB Business is also experiencing growing demand for fibre connectivity and we are constantly increasing our footprint as fibre networks are rolled out around the country," Joubert adds. "Unfettered, fast connectivity - fibre, ADSL and leased lines - makes it not only feasible, but practical for business to harness the power of cloud computing," Joubert says.

"The cloud is likely to change the way business is done, but where does that leave a business that is still using dial-up, or a capped 384kbps ADSL connection that does what it was supposed to do when it was first installed?"