By Dan Carr
Today’s small business owners are navigating a fast-changing landscape shaped by evolving customer expectations, hybrid work models, and rapidly advancing technologies. Staying flexible and connected is essential. Whether collaborating with remote teams, meeting with virtual clients, or working on the go, reliable connectivity is the foundation for modern success.
For small business owners, embracing these changes is key. True success hinges on having scalable technology that seamlessly connects with customers, suppliers, and employees–anytime, anywhere.
To support local small businesses in Virginia during National Small Business Week (May 4 – May 10, 2025), the following five tips for small business owners will help them build a strong digital foundation and set their businesses up for long-term success.
1. Get Online – the Right Way
While connectivity is crucial, simply getting online isn’t enough. The right bandwidth, mobile flexibility, and network reliability are essential in powering everything from cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) systems to customer-facing Wi-Fi networks. While requirements will vary for each business, it’s important to find the right connectivity for each organization’s needs to optimize efficiency.
2. Incorporate Emerging Technology
The rise of AI-powered solutions is transforming small business operations–but these tools all rely on strong connectivity to be used efficiently. Together, AI and reliable Internet open the door to new possibilities for small business owners.
For example, AI-powered tools enabled by Wi-Fi can help a small warehouse automatically reorder stock when running low, or power self-checkout kiosks at a store. By simplifying day-to-day tasks and improving efficiency, these tools empower small businesses to focus on what matters.
3. Prioritize Cybersecurity at Every Touchpoint
Cybersecurity threats continue to grow more sophisticated, and small businesses remain prime targets. According to the 2024 Comcast Business Small Business Cybersecurity Report, malware and botnet activity targeting small businesses skyrocketed, with a 368% increase in botnet activity in the spring of 2024.
Today, cybersecurity must go beyond firewalls–small businesses need security solutions across all devices, including real-time threat detection, secure Wi-Fi, and ransomware protection. Small businesses shouldn’t overlook mobile endpoints like smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices either, as they are just as vulnerable and should be incorporated into cybersecurity infrastructure.
4. Optimize for Hybrid Work
The hybrid model is here to stay, so small businesses need to remain flexible for employees. Whether at home or on the road, reliable access to business systems and communication tools is critical.
This means ensuring that team members have access to the right files, video platforms, and collaborative tools from anywhere. With connectivity and cloud solutions creating a strong digital foundation, small businesses can stay productive, and connected, regardless of where they are.
5. Implement a Business Mobile Plan
Small businesses have unique needs when it comes to mobile plans. When searching for a provider, look for flexible, scalable plans that mix unlimited and by-the-gig data with discounts as lines are added and business grows.
Good mobile partners should also provide a wide range of devices to meet the technology needs of each business. Between tablets, phones, smart watches, and hot spots, finding the right combination for individual business requirements is vital. These mobile tools need to work seamlessly with the business’s existing systems, apps, and collaboration platforms to ensure that efficiency is enhanced, not halted. And, mobile partners should offer support in helping employees get these tools up and running on mobile devices.
For example, Comcast Business provides Joe Bean’s Express Espresso (Joe Bean’s), a Virginia-based coffee shop, with Internet and mobile solutions to help keep its operations running smoothly and efficiently at locations in Lynchburg and Altavista. As part of the company’s digital transformation, Joe Bean’s recently expanded its Comcast Business Mobile services to add seven total lines, taking advantage of flexible and cost-effective mobile plans on a reliable 5G network. This has enabled employees to stay connected, whether they are at the register, restocking inventory or handling customer inquiries.
National Small Business Week is an opportunity to support the entrepreneurs and small businesses who are the heart and soul of local communities – like Joe Bean’s in Virginia. Providing support means empowering them with the tools they need to find long-term success. By investing in the right digital foundation now, small businesses can position themselves to grow and flourish in today’s fast-moving world.
To learn more about how Comcast Business can help your business build a strong digital foundation, visit this link.
Dan Carr is Vice President of
Comcast Business for the
Beltway Region.
