Improving business efficiency

With the introduction of comprehensive application optimisation solutions, businesses can begin to realise the full potential and reap the benefits of application-based computing.

Corporate networks continue to experience massive changes in terms of the type of content and the amount of data that traverses them. In the past, this was easily controlled and managed, as networks were closed, so administrators knew exactly what applications, software and services were running over them.

The increase in the type and amount of data carried over modern-day 'open' corporate networks has reduced network capacity, and subsequently, business efficiency has suffered. This is largely due to the sheer number of business and personal devices that now connect to the corporate network, as well as the number of applications being used to conduct everyday business. This means the network itself is the constraint that limits employees from unlocking the full potential and capabilities of mission-critical applications.

In many instances, this constraint has effectively limited the impact that applications can have on business efficiency and IT operations, while also limiting future growth in terms of technological capabilities.

However, by adopting a comprehensive application optimisation solution that offers a mixture of capabilities, organisations can now effectively identify, prevent and resolve application performance issues to deliver a consistent quality of experience for users. This approach will drive cost savings through greater network efficiency and IT operations, while also protecting any existing investments in business-critical applications.

CEOs invest a significant amount of a company's IT budget on business-critical applications. Application optimisation technology can guarantee a return on these investments. For instance, videoconferencing applications can deliver significant savings in terms of operating expenditure, while also driving other important business benefits, provided these applications perform to an acceptable standard.

Businesses gain a competitive advantage by benefiting from faster business processes.

Since end-users are guaranteed a consistent quality of experience while using business-critical applications, employee productivity is significantly increased. A five-minute increase in productivity per employee per day can equate to a 1% increase in productivity at company level.

When applications perform as they should, the number of support desk calls and the need for application and network performance troubleshooting is also reduced, providing further cost savings and improved operation. It is estimated that businesses can save 25%-30% of WAN costs due to the efficiencies derived from solutions that offer greater network visibility, control and optimisation.

With the ability to fully manage the performance of applications delivered over the corporate network or accessed via an Internet connection by end-users, companies can also begin to leverage the trend of application abundance, and adopt cloud services to run an increasing number of business operations.

With guaranteed application performance and improved end-user experience, businesses will also have the confidence to evolve computing models by deploying other forms of technology that can positively impact on workforce productivity and business efficiency, like mobility, unified communications, software as a service and desktop virtualisation.

This type of technology will enable employees to get closer to clients as they can benefit from enhanced access to and delivery of important information while on the go. Businesses, therefore, gain a competitive advantage by benefiting from faster business processes. They are also able to drive business growth as they now have the ability to implement business processes that deliver improved operational efficiency.

These capabilities are powerful drivers in shaping the way companies conduct business. Strategic planning at executive level can now use everyday business technologies to determine how the company can do business differently, because of what new network configurations enable. This gives companies the ability to shift business models in response to changing market conditions and trends, making them extremely agile. As such, optimised application-based computing becomes an enabler and driver of change.

It is for these reasons that any business considering the adoption of an application-driven computing model, first needs to create an optimised network environment. It is from this platform that businesses can then deliver the quality of user experience required to ensure the interactions staff have with mission-critical business applications is as efficient as possible. This is what ultimately drives workforce productivity in the information age, and it is network visibility, control and optimisation technology that holds the key to unlocking the full potential of corporate networks to enable truly ubiquitous application-based computing.