Why Businesses Should Work With a Technology Advisor Instead of Calling an Internet Provider Directly
Choosing an internet plan for a business can seem simple: find a provider, choose a speed, sign the agreement, and get connected.
But business internet is more than a number on a sales sheet.
The right connection depends on how your business operates, how many people and devices rely on it, what applications you use, how critical connectivity is to your day-to-day operations, and what kind of support you will need when something goes wrong.
That is where a technology advisor can make a difference.
Instead of choosing from whatever a single provider happens to be selling, businesses can work with a technology advisor like Straight Line Communications. Through our technology partner network, we have access to hundreds of major internet, telecommunications, and technology providers, allowing us to compare solutions across the marketplace rather than working with just one carrier or direct sales representative. We can provide access to the same provider services, rates, and promotions available through their direct sales teams, while evaluating your business’s exact needs and remaining involved after the service is installed.
Choosing the Right Internet Plan - Not Just the Plan Being Sold
Internet providers such as Spectrum, AT&T, Comcast, and others have a variety of business services available. Their sales representatives can certainly help explain those services, but their job is ultimately to sell their company's products.
A technology advisor approaches the decision from a different perspective.
Rather than starting with, “What internet plan can we sell you?” the conversation starts with, “What does your business actually need?”
A business with five employees may have very different requirements from a company with hundreds of employees, multiple locations, cloud applications, VoIP phones, security systems, or an extensive network infrastructure.
Sometimes the best solution is a faster connection. Sometimes it is better reliability, additional bandwidth, a different service provider, redundancy, or simply avoiding paying for more service than the business actually needs.
The goal is to match the service to the business, not the business to the provider's sales catalog.
An Extra Layer of Expertise on Your Team
Working with a technology advisor isn't limited to businesses that have large IT departments.
An experienced IT director may already understand networking and telecommunications but may not have the time to research every available carrier, compare pricing, coordinate installations, and spend hours troubleshooting with a provider.
A first-time small business owner may have an entirely different challenge: they may not know what questions to ask in the first place.
A technology advisor can work alongside both.
For an IT department, we can become an additional resource when evaluating connectivity options, coordinating with carriers, or working through technical issues.
For a small business owner, we can help translate technical requirements into practical decisions and make sure they understand what they are purchasing.
The size of the business may change. The need for someone knowledgeable in your corner doesn't.
The Relationship Shouldn't End When the Internet Is Installed
One of the biggest advantages of working with a technology advisor is after-sales support.
Getting the service installed is only the beginning.
When an internet connection goes down, the business doesn't stop operating just because the provider's support line has been contacted. Employees may be unable to access cloud applications, process transactions, make phone calls, communicate with customers, or access critical systems.
That's when having someone on your side becomes valuable.
A technology advisor can help communicate with the provider, troubleshoot the issue, understand what the carrier is telling you, and help coordinate the next steps.
At Straight Line Communications, when you call us, you're not starting over with someone who has never worked with your business before. You know who you're calling, and we know your network, your systems, and your priorities. Because we understand your environment, we can work with you to identify the problem, communicate with the provider, and help move toward a solution.
Instead of a business owner or IT employee having to spend hours explaining their network to a provider's support representative, you have another technical professional involved who already understands your business and can help navigate the issue with you.
You Shouldn't Have to Fight Your Internet Bill
Your internet provider plays an important role in keeping your business connected, but you shouldn't have to navigate the entire process alone.
As your business grows and your needs change, or bills rise, we can continue to help evaluate your technology, work with providers on your behalf, and make sure your services continue to fit your business.
Whether you're an IT director managing a large organization or a small business owner, you have an industry expert on your team at no additional cost.
Your provider supplies the connection. We help make sure it's the right connection for your business.
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