Business

Online Business Infrastructure: Do’s and Don’ts

What is an Online Business Infrastructure?

An online business infrastructure is the systems and processes needed for an online business to successfully operate. These systems may include information technology (IT), customer relationship management, and any digital structure pertinent to the organization’s operation. For example, an instant messaging application that is used by team members to effectively communicate about business-relevant topics would be considered a component of online business infrastructure. A robust online business infrastructure is important for any business but is especially vital for companies that function in remote settings. Without a solid online business infrastructure, team members of these companies would be unable to communicate and cooperate to achieve shared goals.

An Online Business Infrastructure Affects a Business’s

  • Flexibility

Your company’s online business infrastructure will have a direct and immediate impact on its flexibility. This is because the systems that make up your brand’s online business infrastructure will dictate how the members of your organization are able to communicate and collaborate with one another. Companies with more robust online business infrastructures will be more flexible than those without them. This means that businesses with solid online infrastructures have an easier time adapting to forceful changes such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, businesses with a strong online business infrastructure are more capable of capitalizing on market trends.

  • Scalability

A company’s online business infrastructure will also determine how difficult it is to scale that business to the next level. Scalability is an important element of a successful business. If a company doesn’t purposely create a scalable online business infrastructure, then it could be a victim of its own success. By this, we mean that a business can grow faster than its operations can actually support. Imagine trying to run a warehouse that doesn’t have sufficient shipping services to be able to make deliveries. This is a decent metaphor for the predicament unscalable online businesses would be in. You should also consider offering several shipping services at checkout to accommodate every user’s needs.

Brands that ensure their online infrastructure is scalable enable themselves to continue growing as they find more success.

  • Culture

The online business infrastructure of your business will determine how frequently and to what level your employees engage with one another. Because of this, your online business infrastructure will dictate the culture of your company. Let’s take the example of a company that invests in a robust infrastructure that includes elements such as instant messaging software and a company-wide newsletter. This company is more likely to foster genuine connections between its team members even if they were miles apart. This will encourage team members to help each other and function as a unit.

Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s:

  • Prepare for Heavy Investment

If you’re in the process of reevaluating your company’s online business infrastructure, be prepared to make some serious monetary investment. Changing core elements of your online infrastructure will almost certainly come with some complications that need to be ironed out. Additionally, when such vital components of your online infrastructure are being edited or replaced altogether, it may impede standard business operations. For example, if your company is transitioning to a new email server, then there is a good chance communication will be temporarily affected.

  • Focus On User Experience

When creating a new online business infrastructure or updating their old one, many companies only pay attention to the internal side of the infrastructure. This is the half of the business infrastructure that only employees have access to. While this half of the business infrastructure facilitates important communication, it is not the entire picture. You should also ensure that the infrastructure your users and online customers interact with is effective as well.

 Don’ts:

 Rely on Aging Hardware

With technology advancing as rapidly as it has been in recent years, it is a mistake to trust older hardware with your online business infrastructure. Simply put, a lot of older machines and servers are incapable of keeping up with new software and applications. When you reevaluate your online business infrastructure, be sure to leave space in the budget for modern hardware.

  • Don’t Rip and Replace Legacy Systems

There are a few different ways to modernize a company’s online business infrastructure. Many brands decide to “rip and replace” older systems and replace them with a new system that has been designed from the ground up. While this method has its advantages, it can be expensive and disruptive to the organization’s daily operations. Instead, organizations could consider automated cloud migration, which allows the infrastructure to be updated in stages. This will minimize the disruptions the process causes for the business.

What is an Online Business Infrastructure?

An online business infrastructure is the systems and processes needed for an online business to successfully operate. These systems may include information technology (IT), customer relationship management, and any digital structure pertinent to the organization’s operation. For example, an instant messaging application that is used by team members to effectively communicate about business-relevant topics would be considered a component of online business infrastructure. A robust online business infrastructure is important for any business but is especially vital for companies that function in remote settings. Without a solid online business infrastructure, team members of these companies would be unable to communicate and cooperate to achieve shared goals

An Online Business Infrastructure Affects a Business’s

  • Flexibility

Your company’s online business infrastructure will have a direct and immediate impact on its flexibility. This is because the systems that make up your brand’s online business infrastructure will dictate how the members of your organization are able to communicate and collaborate with one another. Companies with more robust online business infrastructures will be more flexible than those without them. This means that businesses with solid online infrastructures have an easier time adapting to forceful changes such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, businesses with a strong online business infrastructure are more capable of capitalizing on market trends.

  • Scalability

A company’s online business infrastructure will also determine how difficult it is to scale that business to the next level. Scalability is an important element of a successful business. If a company doesn’t purposely create a scalable online business infrastructure, then it could be a victim of its own success. By this, we mean that a business can grow faster than its operations can actually support. Imagine trying to run a warehouse that doesn’t have sufficient shipping services to be able to make deliveries. This is a decent metaphor for the predicament unscalable online businesses would be in. You should also consider offering several shipping services at checkout to accommodate every user’s needs.

Brands that ensure their online infrastructure is scalable enable themselves to continue growing as they find more success.

  • Culture

The online business infrastructure of your business will determine how frequently and to what level your employees engage with one another. Because of this, your online business infrastructure will dictate the culture of your company. Let’s take the example of a company that invests in a robust infrastructure that includes elements such as instant messaging software and a company-wide newsletter. This company is more likely to foster genuine connections between its team members even if they were miles apart. This will encourage team members to help each other and function as a unit.

Do’s & Don’ts

Do’s:

  • Prepare for Heavy Investment

If you’re in the process of reevaluating your company’s online business infrastructure, be prepared to make some serious monetary investment. Changing core elements of your online infrastructure will almost certainly come with some complications that need to be ironed out. Additionally, when such vital components of your online infrastructure are being edited or replaced altogether, it may impede standard business operations. For example, if your company is transitioning to a new email server, then there is a good chance communication will be temporarily affected.

  • Focus On User Experience

When creating a new online business infrastructure or updating their old one, many companies only pay attention to the internal side of the infrastructure. This is the half of the business infrastructure that only employees have access to. While this half of the business infrastructure facilitates important communication, it is not the entire picture. You should also ensure that the infrastructure your users and online customers interact with is effective as well.

 Don’ts:

  • Rely on Aging Hardware

With technology advancing as rapidly as it has been in recent years, it is a mistake to trust older hardware with your online business infrastructure. Simply put, a lot of older machines and servers are incapable of keeping up with new software and applications. When you reevaluate your online business infrastructure, be sure to leave space in the budget for modern hardware.

  • Don’t Rip and Replace Legacy Systems

There are a few different ways to modernize a company’s online business infrastructure. Many brands decide to “rip and replace” older systems and replace them with a new system that has been designed from the ground up. While this method has its advantages, it can be expensive and disruptive to the organization’s daily operations. Instead, organizations could consider automated cloud migration, which allows the infrastructure to be updated in stages. This will minimize the disruptions the process causes for the business.

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