As a business grows in clientele and income, it often follows suit in terms of physical space. Companies that scale up often do so with the introduction of additional sites and workplaces, whether nearby to one another or across the UK. It could be a scenario like Bristol powerhouse eatery Eat-a-Pitta, which has become the city’s leading falafel flinger, or it could be something more expansive, like Cadbury’s chocolate championship. Companies like this, big or small, all need effective site-to-site connections.
Site-to-site connectivity is essential for businesses with multiple locations, allowing them to communicate between sites smoothly and effectively. This article will dig deeper into the benefits and importance of strong connections across a company’s multiple workplaces, so you can feel confident about the right move when it’s time to expand.
Maintaining consistency in processes and technology
Setting up multiple sites with disparate computing systems is a surefire way to get in the way of proper efficiency. Employees across all of your sites need access to the same:
- Software
- Documents
- Computing tools
Without this consistency, it’s impossible to uphold the same standards and expectations across your locations. Think about the success of McDonald’s – it comes from customers stepping into any location across the country and being confident that they’re going to receive the same standard of service. It doesn’t matter if you’re a multi-site accountancy firm or selling soap. Consistency starts from the inside.
Good site-to-site logistics and connectivity, with all PCs having access to the same resources, allow for the maintenance of consistency, with multi-site monitoring and collaboration facilitated effectively.
Enhanced productivity
With better collaboration and standardisation, you can also expect a general uptick in productivity. Connecting departments and sites seamlessly allows for smoother, more reliable communication and teamwork, which should reflect in your numbers.
Secure and managed
A site-to-site link is generally going to be set up by some sort of host or provider, which (depending on their credentials) should enhance consistency and security. A reputable network manager will be able to prevent crashes and unnecessary downtime, while proper security will also help to protect multiple sites from cyber crime. A site-to-site VPN can further enhance security.
Different forms of site-to-site connections
When choosing how to establish your site-to-site connections, there are a few different directions you can go in, depending on the geographical requirements of your business.
Local Ethernet Site-to-Site
This is a system that utilises dedicated fibre to create an ethernet connection between two fairly nearby sites. Good local site-to-site should be backed by SLAs, and it is a perfect solution for a growing business expanding to its second location.
National Ethernet Site-to-Site
If your business has two or more UK-based sites, National Ethernet connectivity is the ideal next step. These are essentially the same thing as Local Ethernet solutions, albeit on a much larger scale, and complete with national monitoring.
Wireless Point-to-Point
Wireless Point-to-Point solutions are designed for site-to-site connections across multiple sites across the UK, where physically-wired connections simply aren’t possible, practical or worth the cost. Site-to-site WiFi connections like these can cover a lot of ground and connect two or more buildings via the points. These connections also don’t require any physical construction, with high-speed wireless hubs distributed across locations.
It’s time to connect your sites
If you’re setting up your second location in the same town or starting a franchise on the other side of the country, you need site-to-site connections to be smooth and well-maintained. Without these connections, you can say goodbye to consistency, collaboration and proper standards. Find your IT partner and become truly scalable starting today!
