Many small businesses run on an internet plan that’s ‘good enough’. That is until productivity is affected by slow systems, lagging tools or frustrated staff. The cost? Time, performance and opportunities for growth.

As your small business grows and most likely relies more heavily on hybrid working, cloud platforms and digital workflows, it makes sense to ask the question, ‘Is my internet plan from yesterday keeping up with my business needs today?’

Ergo Strategy’s research* into internet trends among Australian small businesses shows that connectivity needs change dramatically as businesses grow, adopt cloud tools and expand locations. With technology evolving rapidly, businesses with more than three employees are now carrying out multiple cloud-based activities each day while the use of AI has doubled since 2023.

An internet plan that used to work for a small team of five can quickly become inadequate for a team of 10, with more staff and devices relying on the same connection.

Choosing the right internet plan is increasingly vital to maintaining productivity, supporting collaboration and delivering a more seamless experience.

That’s why internet plans designed for businesses, like nbn® Business plans, are available through a vast network of providers. They have the evolving needs of small businesses in mind, including plans with fast speeds, reliable connectivity and the flexibility to scale up as you need. 

So what are the signs it might be time for an upgrade?

1. Small tasks are taking too much time out of your work day

One of the biggest signs is when small tasks like uploads, downloads, sending large attachments and accessing shared cloud tools become a chore.

These workflow interruptions cause delays and can cost teams hours each week, leading to missed deadlines, slower decision-making and reduced overall efficiency.

What appears to be a minor issue may be a sign that the underlying upload and download speeds available on your internet plan or connection are no longer supporting your business needs or meeting the growing expectation for employees to connect, collaborate and work together seamlessly, whether in the office or at home.

2. Your systems are stalling

Even brief dropouts or slowdowns can disrupt the systems that power day-to-day business operations. A stable internet connection is the foundation for the platforms many businesses rely on to run without disruption.

Businesses across sectors use cloud-based systems to manage accounting, CRM tools, bookings, POS and inventory management. That means business performance has become more dependent on consistent connectivity.

According to Ergo Strategy’s research* reliability remains a top priority for businesses, especially as more digitally intensive workflows rely on multiple systems at once and need greater bandwidth to operate smoothly.

Their research also shows that expectations from businesses about the reliability of their connection are tightening, with the majority now only able to tolerate a maximum of three hours of connection downtime.

When core systems lag, teams are forced to work around technology, rather than with it.

3. Your internet plan hasn’t changed in years (even though your business has)

Many small businesses stay on the internet plan they chose at the start , only revisiting their plan when performance issues start impacting day-to-day operations.

In some cases, that plan may be designed for residential use, rather than for a multi-user, cloud-based business environment.

As your business grows, the number of people and devices often increases too – from laptops and monitors, to smartphones, tablets and more – all of which place demand on your network.

At the same time, hybrid and remote work models lead to more users accessing systems and tapping into your network from different locations.

This increased load isn’t always visible until performance starts to dip, particularly during peak hours when collaboration tools, cloud platforms and communications systems are all running at once.

An internet plan that was once fit-for-purpose may quickly fall behind if your headcount increases and operations become more complex and your underlying connectivity doesn’t evolve at the same pace.

What to ask your provider

Reviewing your connectivity needs with your provider can help ensure your infrastructure keeps pace with how your business operates today – and where it’s heading next.

If these challenges sound familiar, it may be a sign your business has outgrown the internet plan that once supported it. Here are some questions to ask your provider:

• Is my current plan designed for the size of my team?
• What speeds support multiple cloud tools?
• What options will best support business growth over the next few years?
• What connectivity options are available at my premises?

Explore nbn Business Plans to find options suited to your business needs.

* This research was commissioned by nbn but does not necessarily reflect the views of nbn or all businesses in Australia. Ergo Strategy is solely responsible for the accuracy of the data presented in the paper.

This article is brought to you by Business Builders in partnership with nbn.