Wireless networks: benefits for business efficiency and productivity

Wireless Technology

Accuracy of information

The presence of a wireless network allows for the user to be present online at any time and thus have access to the latest information. Based on the "anytime, anywhere" concept, characterizing all wireless networks, the user can login and gain the latest information available. An example where this would efficient is in the finance and stock exchange industry. Indeed, being able to receive the latest quotas, the latest prices on shares, as well as the latest news on the companies etc. is essential in being able to make the right decision whether to buy or sell or hold and take the appropriate position on the market.

In terms of managerial decision, constant access to accurate information is also essential because the manager will be able to direct and plan in accordance to the realities of the market.

Less time spent on organizing cables

No matter how simple this advantage might seem, it is nevertheless an essential one. In a cable - full company, we may acknowledge the fact that 4-6 people might share an office (we will consider a reasonable figure). For each of these employees, we will have a monitor, a central unit, a printer etc. And all these would be connected with cables, perhaps even all of the computers will be linked with cables to a central server. If we multiply a number of several cables per employee with the total numbers of employees in a room, we will end up with lots of space taken up with cables, which will translated in increased costs, because you will be able to fit less employees in the same room.

Still in terms of cables and their absence, we can point out the fact that changing the office location will prove to be a much less challenging task if a wireless network is used. The entire process of dismantlement and reorganization of the cabled networks in the new office location will take both extra time and money.

Return on Investment and lower overall operational costs

This advantage comes somehow as a completion to those previously mentioned in terms of cabling and operational activities. At this point, however, this can be backed with hard facts: according to relevant figures, "organizations save an average of $164,000 annually on cabling costs and labor." Given the fact that this may come as an investment in increasing productivity in other areas of the organization, we can draw the conclusion that the overall ROI is relevant in terms of the financial performance and efficiency of the organization.

Disadvantages

We have listed a series of advantages that will certainly turn organizations from traditional networking to wireless networking. On the other hand, we need to take into consideration important disadvantages and, especially, risks associated with this type of networking. The most important one that stands out is the security issue.

Today's global business environment is characterized not only by its increased mobility and the need to be able to quickly react to all stimuli on the market (all these issues that encourage the use of a wireless network), but also by the value of information.

Information is, according to many, the most important and valuable asset a company can possess.

The problem with a wireless network is that it diminishes security and, in an era where information is essential, this can lead to security glitches that might damage information control in the organization and might lead to information leaks to the outside. If security becomes the primary objectives to be reached, then firewalls and other security elements need to be installed, which technically will tend to reduce speed. If the speed of access to the network is significantly reduced, then obviously the increase in productivity and efficiency will be seriously diminished.

In terms of disadvantages, we should also point out towards the fact that building a wireless network is not necessarily a cheap operation, despite the operational cost reductions for the future we have already mentioned. Indeed, especially if we are talking about a large wireless network and a network on which security devices are available, then the investment will also be reasonably high. Further more, the depreciation period will tend to be higher.

Technically, the wireless network also provides significant problems in terms of quality and reliability, because of possible interferences from other electronic sources. Obviously, the benefits and advantages of constant access and connectivity become void if the information is blurred, if access is not constant and there are interferences etc.

On the other hand, many individuals working in the IT sector have completely denied any correlation between the performance of wireless connectivity and natural weather conditions. As such, Julia A. Bowers stated in the interview conducted that weather conditions do not affect the wireless speed of the data transfer.

The interview also showed that the wireless networking system is already spreading throughout the country, which means that any geographical correlation, relating the performance or availability of wireless network connections to a certain geographical area (the urban area, for example) is now almost inexistent. Throughout the United States, wireless networks are available, not to mention hot spots where the Internet is available in cafes, bars or hotels.

Conclusions

An analysis over this presentation points out that wireless networking has become one of the necessities of the business world in the 21st century. Starting with the most important characteristics of the business environment, things such as the need for information availability and accessibility, as well as the need to be constantly connected and able to communicate and exchange data and information have become a necessity and have started to be the competitive advantage companies nowadays need in order to remain profitable.

Despite inherent problems that might appear, such as the need to have a secure system, a system where company information is protected from the outside, our conclusions point out towards the fact that organizations in the 21st century can only survive on the market. Because productivity and low costs are a key factor for competitiveness, wireless networking is likely to increase profitability for the organizations as well.