- SMBs suffer from unreliable Wi-Fi
- UK small businesses lose an average of 11 hours a week to Wi-Fi disruption
- Nearly half (47%) of business leaders said they would feel more confident if they could improve the reliability of connectivity.
Small businesses face major productivity issues due to disruptions caused by their Wi-Fi connectivity, according to a new study.
Zen Internet’s findings claim that small businesses lose an average of 11 hours per week due to connection issues.
And it’s not just a minor inconvenience or network loss: nearly 4 in 10 SMBs say these issues directly cost them revenue.
Wi-Fi is a problem
The scale of the problem is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that almost half (47%) of business leaders surveyed for the report say they would feel more confident in the success of their business if they could improve the reliability of connectivity.
Half of business decision-makers said poor Wi-Fi coverage inside their premises limits the value they get from broadband connectivity, while 39% say connectivity issues directly cause lost revenue.
“We often talk about productivity in terms of skills, investment and innovation, but digital reliability has become just as fundamental,” noted Jon Nowell, general manager of Zen’s commercial division.
“For many SMEs, poor connectivity within buildings is now a hidden operational cost. If businesses are to modernize and grow, the technology experience in offices, retail spaces and hospitality venues must also keep pace.”
The study also found that connectivity issues affected the day-to-day operation of a business, as 23% of respondents said connectivity disruptions impacted communication with customers or suppliers.
A similar number (22%) say it directly slows operations, 21% say it disrupts digital payments, and 22% say it contributes to lost sales or missed opportunities.
“Small businesses are under pressure to operate faster, serve their customers seamlessly and rely more than ever on cloud-based systems, digital payments and connected devices,” Nowell added.
“But too many businesses still have a disconnect between broadband coming into the building and the actual experience staff and customers have every day.”
“You can have access to fiber optics, but if the WiFi inside the premises is unreliable, businesses still lose productivity, sales opportunities and operational efficiencies.”
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