How Expanding Beyond Residential Can Be a Growth Driver for Cable Operators

In competitive markets, cable operators can differentiate by going beyond residential connectivity—and offering small business services that bring unique value to their communities.
 

There are over 33 million small businesses in the United States that employ more than 61 million people. These small businesses are the heart of local communities, and they drive economic growth, fuel workforce development that encourages residents to stay, and invest in their communities. 
 

However, small business owners face many challenges in today’s landscape. It’s difficult to find and retain employees, attract new customers, manage cashflow, overcome supply chain issues, weather ongoing economic turbulence, and manage the critical networking and IT solutions that support day-to-day operations. 
 

To continue to succeed and grow, small businesses need high-speed, highly resilient connectivity and networking solutions that support business-critical applications and offer robust cybersecurity. 

Keep Business Up and Running With Small Business Connectivity Solutions

Nothing halts business faster than a network outage or a ransomware attack. Recall a recent outage at Panera Bread across all digital channels, which completely wiped their revenue at that time. While in-store ordering was still possible, their app, website, and kiosk ordering were all impacted. This outage also hit right as the company was launching a new menu—a timing catastrophe that would have devastated a small business. 
 

Unlike Panera, small businesses don’t have the luxuries of being offline for even a few hours. Additionally, they often can’t afford sophisticated networking solutions and lack a dedicated IT staff. That’s why small business solutions are essential—and cable operators are poised to offer them.
 

Whether it’s a local dive bar, a mechanic’s shop, a hair salon, or a real estate agency, small business owners don’t want the headache of managing their network. They need to spend their time focusing on maximizing productivity and growing revenue—not worrying about the reliability and security of their connectivity. 
 

Small businesses require many of the same features as a larger company when it comes to connectivity needs. They need robust network security, network access control, staff management, and enhanced customer experiences. 

Cable Operators With SmartBiz Help Small Businesses Run Like Big Ones (and Help Themselves Grow)

As a local cable operator, you’ve served your community for years. No one is as uniquely positioned as you to help small business owners unlock their potential and expand their market reach. 
 

To help operators meet this significant market opportunity, Calix offers SmartBiz™, which offers small businesses the robust capabilities long enjoyed by larger enterprises—without the complexity and cost. In a single, comprehensive solution, SmartBiz integrates everything operators need so they can help small businesses—and their communities—thrive. With SmartBiz, operators can not only help local small businesses get ahead of their competition—they can launch ahead of theirs, too. 

Want to learn more about expanding into new segments?  Download our eBook, “Navigating the Competitive Landscape: Differentiated Strategies for Cable Operators To Win Subscribers in Crowded Markets.”