It's almost impossible to imagine a world without the internet, so integral has it become to our daily lives.
It drives entire industries, shapes technological and scientific innovation, informs and entertains. It creates new ways for us to communicate, congregate and interact.
It has also introduced dramatic changes to the way we conduct business: today the uptake of buying, selling and marketing online is crucial to companies of all sizes and in all sectors.
Many forward-thinking organisations now work closely with other firms and build close relationships with customers via the latest internet technologies, with a raft of mobile, video, audio and cloud-based applications enabling a range of productivity-increasing tools to be used.
According to the latest research from BT Business and British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), UK businesses' reliance on Internet access is so vital that more than two thirds (68%) believe their companies could not survive more than a day or two without a connection.
With so much of our economy underpinned by the internet, it's evident we need an infrastructure that offers speed and reliability, something of which Robin Farnan, who heads up BT's financial technology services division globally, is acutely aware.
Based in Edinburgh, and a member of the BT Scotland Board, Farnan says: "Today, because of bandwidth increases, we can enjoy much richer content on the internet. This transfers directly into enabling people to be much more productive.
"The biggest impact on how we do business online today, however, is mobility. These days we can always remain in contact, whether through a tablet or a smart phone, and from a business perspective we're always contactable online. In a global marketplace, this means businesses can be effective 24/7."
With the real time access offered by superfast broadband, many companies are discovering they can widen their reach to clients in a way that they would never have considered feasible before.
"From a BT perspective, superfast broadband is enabling companies to reach far outwith their traditional marketplaces," says Farnan. "They are able to advertise products on the web, set up worldwide distribution, and bring local produce and local capability and skills into markets they never would have thought was possible.
"Utilising technology in this way means businesses can reduce their costs, speed up production and benefit from greater agility."
Such harnessing of the potential of online communication can be witnessed in companies of hugely varying size. Let's take an example of one of the biggest: Tesco Bank established its headquarters in Scotland to challenge high street banking and subvert the traditional model with online assessment, helpline and chatlines.
Its plan certainly seems to have paid off: it has just announced the opening of its seven millionth account and says that 86% of transactions are now completed online.
At the other end of the scale, meanwhile, is Charles MacLeod, the renowned makers of Stornoway black pudding. A family business that stretches back over six decades, it is representative of many small companies based in remote locations who have seen business explode on a UK-wide basis after offering online shopping.
Using an internet platform also meant the island company could acquire the influence to persuade the EU to award its product special European status.
For Farnan the success of both businesses serves to illustrate that the great migration online is crucial to companies across all sizes and sectors, including the public.
The BCC study shows that 60% of UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are already using cloud-based applications. Almost half of those businesses surveyed (47%) have staff working away from the office at least once a week, while 28% have someone working remotely every day.
Of those interviewed, 43% believed cloud-based applications were a critical element of effective flexible working, with more than half (52%) suggesting that remote access to company data was essential; a similar number (50%) cited Wi-Fi access when out of the office - for example, in cafes - as a key driver.
Farnan also points to the success of BT Compute, whose services are available globally from BT's data centres, providing everything from traditional telehousing and co-location, through to the latest cloud offerings.
"Historically firms would have used data centres but now they have much more capacity and flexibility in their access to the latest data centre technology."
He adds that even the most remote communities of Scotland have access. "They are enabled and can compete," he says, "and as the roll-out of fibre broadband extends this is only going to get better. Geography just does not present the challenges that it did in the past. The Internet breaks down barriers: geography, language, culture…"
Enablement is a word that comes up often when discussing the power of the internet. "It's true that the Internet enables communities all over the world," says Farnan. "The technology is incredibly important for business, but it also brings in a social element; the Internet helps weave the social fabric.
"In fact, our big vision is enabling communities; it is core to our business strategy. Effective communication enables Scotland to come together, make the best use of its assets. It's also self-motivating. Look at the success of blogs, community forums and the like. The Internet allows opportunities, and offers leverage."
Certainly, the internet is a hugely powerful tool. In the final analysis, however, success will always come down to the willingness and motivation of those who are to use this tool.
Farnan agrees, adding: "It comes down to people, yes. That's why it's vitally important that we share examples of healthy businesses making the best use of the Internet. We must create awareness and educate."
Any entrepreneur in any level of business and no matter what market they are in needs to be harnessing effective engagement in communication. As Farnan points out: "Get in business and online and you can have a sphere of influence no matter where you choose to base yourself!"
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