- SMBs are suffering due to unreliable Wi-Fi connection
- UK small businesses are losing an average of 11 hours a week due to Wi-Fi disruption
- Nearly half (47%) of business leaders said they would feel more secure if they could improve connectivity reliability.
Small businesses are experiencing significant productivity issues due to disruptions caused by their Wi-Fi connectivity, new research claims.
Zen Internet results state that small businesses are losing an average of 11 hours a week due to connection problems.
And this isn’t just a minor annoyance or network loss: nearly 4 in 10 SMEs say the issues are directly costing them revenue.
Wi-Fi causes problems
The magnitude of the problem was perhaps best reflected in the finding that nearly half (47%) of business leaders surveyed for the report said they would feel more confident in their company’s success if they could improve connectivity reliability.
Half of senior business decision makers said poor Wi-Fi coverage within their facilities limits the value they get from broadband connectivity, while 39% say connectivity issues are directly causing lost revenue.
“We often talk about productivity in terms of skills, investment and innovation, but digital reliability has become equally critical,” said Jon Nowell, managing director of Zen’s commercial division.
“For many SMEs, poor connectivity within their buildings is now a hidden operational cost. If businesses are to modernize and grow, technological expertise within offices, retail spaces and hospitality venues also needs to keep pace.”
The research also found that connectivity issues were affecting the daily running of a business, with 23% saying that disruption to connectivity affects communication with customers or suppliers.
A similar number (22%) say it directly slows down operations, 21% said it disrupts digital payments, and 22% said it contributes to lost sales or missed opportunities.
“Small businesses are under pressure to operate faster, serve customers seamlessly and rely more than ever on cloud-based systems, digital payments and connected devices,” Nowell added.
“But many businesses still have a disconnect between the broadband coming into the building and the actual experience that staff and customers get every day.”
“Full fiber can be accessed, but if on-premise WiFi is unreliable, businesses still lose productivity, sales opportunities, and operational efficiency.”
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