Questions, questions, questions. We always have a lot of them when choosing a new service provider. Settling on a business internet provider is no different, to be honest.
No one is immune to getting lost in surface-level questions and missing the ones that really matter. This is part of 'choice anxiety' or 'decision anxiety', when all the options that bombard us get overwhelming and we're crippled by indecision.
That's why it can be really useful to know the essential questions to ask a service provider, so you can use their answers to shortlist the right providers for you.
If you're looking for an internet service provider for your business, I'm guessing you've got two pressing priorities to sort out: whether the business internet plan is worth the extra cost, and whether the service measures up to your business demands.
Let's simplify the shortlisting process by running through the three big questions you should ask any prospective business broadband provider. These questions should help you cut through the sales spiel and get right to the point with solid responses.
1. Why should I spend a premium for a business connection vs home connection?
This is a good big-picture question. It pushes the provider to explain value to you, rather than just feed you a list of features that you may or may not use. If they can't sufficiently explain the value of their service, walk away – this isn't the best business internet provider for you.
You're looking for 'the meat' in their answer, not 'the sizzle'. For example, they might talk about the extraordinary speeds and the service reliability of their business internet connections. But how is that achieved? What are they doing to back up their pitch?
You'll want to hear details about:
The quality of their network, such as whether fibre is available at your workplace, and how that measures up to different fibre types.
Whether they offer symmetrical (or the more common asymmetrical) upload and download speeds, and how that impacts your business.
What level of customer service you can expect, and what that entails.
Whether you get a static IP address, which also supports higher speeds, as well as allows you to host your own servers and other advanced functions.
As you can see, the lofty promise of 'extraordinary speeds and service reliability' just doesn't cut it as an answer. It's the 'how' behind the 'why' that really answers your question.
The Superloop answer:
The benefits of Superloop's business fibre internet connections far outweigh the monthly charge, especially considering the wrong connection could cost your business so much more.
Superloop offers super-fast symmetrical speeds (i.e., the same for uploads and downloads) that can hit 1Gbps/1Gbps. We offer reliable business fibre connections that are less vulnerable to weather events and accidents, including the highest quality option available: Enterprise Ethernet. We can say this because we own and operate our own network, which gives us more control over our service provision.
A free static IP address comes with every Superloop business internet connection so you can host your own services and servers, provide VPN or remote access to these servers, enhance geo-location services and upgrade DNS support. If you do experience problems (because no internet connection is foolproof) or you have questions or need advice, you get prioritised business-grade support from our tech support team. These are all features of a Superloop business internet connection that you’re not going to get with a residential plan. We think they all add up to a level of peace of mind and performance that's worth its weight in gold.
2. Can I quickly add or remove bandwidth if my business needs change?
It's all very well and good to be promised a certain bandwidth when connecting with a business internet provider. But businesses change – often in ways you can’t anticipate at the time of making your connection – so you need to look for a plan that has flexibility built into its features.
With internet connectivity, change in business usually impacts bandwidth. You might find that your business needs to ramp up because a particular contract relies on transferring larger files or the distance from your client puts greater demand on your teleconferencing requirements. Maybe activity through your eCommerce platform goes bonkers at certain times across the year (e.g., Black Friday sales or Christmas shopping) and quieter at others.
That’s why you need to ask the question about bandwidth, so you always get the performance you need, when you need it, and you’re not paying for it when you don’t.
The Superloop answer:
Superloop business nbn plans come with unlimited data across a range of no lock-in, full fibre plans that don’t put a cap on your business potential.
There’s also the added bonus of Superloop’s Speed Blast, you can up your speed to 1Gbps/50Mbps for 24 hours – extra grunt at the drop of a hat – and which you can do five times within any month.
3. What happens when there's a problem with my business internet service?
Now, this is a huge test for any potential internet provider you’re ‘interviewing’ for your business.
We’ve all experienced the frustration of disruptions – or dropouts or temporary speed loss – with our internet service, and nothing is more frustrating than when this happens on a project deadline or when something really important needs to be finished. At these times, the loss of internet service directly reflects on your performance, and your reputation, as a business.
If business internet providers tell you their service will never dropout, they’re lying – plain and simple. No one can promise that. What you need to feel confident about is how a provider will respond to
problems with your business internet. How are problems addressed? And how quickly can they spring back into action?
The Superloop answer:
Superloop takes customer service seriously, and deeply understands the impact and distress that any internet disruptions can have on you personally and professionally. That’s why tech support is not an after-thought for us – it comes built into all Superloop business internet plans.
As a business customer, you get ‘front of the queue’ technical support priority – if you have to wait more than five minutes, you could get a $10 credit.
You can also take comfort in knowing that Superloop owns and operates our infrastructure network, which gives us greater control for getting your business back online.
In a nutshell
Getting the right business internet connection can come down to asking the right questions. Take it from us – these three questions are all you need for making an informed business internet decision.
You might be tempted to go with a home connection for your business, because what's the difference? There are many key differences between home and business internet. Make sure you read up on the details before you commit.
