We hear a lot about growth in the ISP space. We hear about more subscribers, more installs, and more coverage. And all of that matters. But the truth is, growth doesn’t just happen at the top of the funnel.
Sometimes, it starts in a warehouse. Or in the back of a service truck. Or in the moment someone realizes they’ve lost an entire day tracking down a piece of gear that never made it back from the last job.
In the latest episode of Bandwidth, our team had an honest conversation about something many providers are quietly struggling with: operational chaos. From trailers getting broken into to inventory mysteriously going missing, these stories aren’t edge cases, they’re all too common. And as someone who works closely with our clients every day, I can tell you: this pain is real.
What’s really holding providers back?
It’s easy to chalk it up to bad luck when a truck gets stolen or copper disappears from a site. But what we’re often seeing underneath is a deeper issue. There’s a lack of visibility and process that makes it harder to respond, recover, and prevent the next incident.
Rick Seemann, our VP of Product Management, said it best in the conversation:
“We used to live in inventory chaos. The thing that changed everything? Consistency + visibility.”
It wasn’t about adding more tools. It was about putting structure in place that allowed teams to trust the data, trust the inventory, and get out of firefighting mode. That kind of operational clarity does more than reduce loss, it builds confidence across your entire organization.
Operations and client experience go hand in hand
When an installer is delayed because gear is missing, that’s not just an ops issue. It becomes a customer experience problem. When service calls are rerouted or inventory is over-ordered to compensate for uncertainty, those inefficiencies add up.
As someone focused on client relationships, I see how these behind-the-scenes issues surface in front-facing interactions. That’s why our team is so committed to listening, learning, and helping providers build systems that work, not just for today’s problems, but tomorrow’s growth.
A better approach is possible
The good news? Providers who prioritize operational alignment which include inventory, fleet and communication, are already seeing the benefits. It creates space to focus on what really matters: connecting communities, delivering reliable service, and building trust.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly chasing problems instead of scaling solutions, I encourage you to check out this episode of Bandwith. We don’t sugarcoat the challenges. But, we also share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and where we believe the industry is headed.
Georgette Lopez-Aguado
