Slow downloads and dropped calls can be a real pain. To the untrained eye, it might seem like a little blip, but it’s likely part of a larger problem, which is poor connectivity. It’s become the norm to require a high-quality and stable connection at the office and on the road – it’s essential, in fact. To bring you up to speed and how to tackle mobile network problems, we’ll provide some insight into the issue of poor connection and the best way to tackle the problem.
The real cost of poor connectivity
A slow and unreliable connection can be frustrating and we get it. It can cause some real challenges that you don’t want to have to deal with, and ones which can possibly cause some damage to your business.
Lost productivity
One blip can multiply and cause lots of time wasted. And yes, that translates into lost money. slow internet doesn’t just waste a little time for one person—it multiplies across the whole team and costs your business a lot of time overall.
Poor customer experience
What happens when a customer tries phoning in and it keeps dropping? They’ll probably start looking elsewhere, somewhere more reliable. Every bad interaction affects your relationship with your customers, leading to bad reviews, and in turn, makes your business look unreliable. We don’t want that, do we?
Missed opportunities and revenue loss
Near-instant loading and not having to worry about downtime or slow load speeds increases productivity in your business. This then increases efficiency and profitability. If your team don’t have the right tools to do their job, you’ll miss out on new opportunities and slow down your business growth. The financial impact because of poor connectivity is too great to ignore.
We wanted to show you what happens when poor connectivity takes over – huge amounts of money and time are lost. According to Beaming’s report, internet outages cost businesses over 50 million working hours and £3.7 billion in 2023. Another study from Unity World found that small businesses had lost £2.7 billion due to downtime.
How to spot connectivity issues in your business
If you’re not sure if poor connectivity is a problem, here are some signs:
- Frequent complaints: Typically, when the data is slow, you’ll hear from your employees.
- Slowdowns at peak times: Your network can’t handle the amount of use.
- Slow cloud tools: Your CRM or cloud-based tools could be facing long loading times.
- Speed test results: An online test can be the clearest way to see if your download and upload speeds are taking a hit.
Practical steps to improve connectivity
Don’t get a headache trying to fix it without some tips. Let us give you a hand.
- Review your current mobile plan
It’s worth checking your current plan to make sure it meets your needs. If your team has grown, you’ll more than likely need to give your mobile setup a bit of an upgrade. The easiest option will probably be to upgrade your plan by adding new devices or, if you’re just needing higher levels of data, to upgrade your data allowance and keep your current handsets.
- Choose a reliable provider
Not all providers are equal. This is apparent when you’re browsing around and notice a lot of price differences for similar packages. Explore what’s out there and go for one which is more suited to your needs, whether you’re looking for a cheap deal, reliability or high-class customer service. Factoring all 3 will give you the best chance of a long-lasting provider.
- Perform regular maintenance
Constantly evaluating your business mobiles will keep you performing in tip-top shape. Regular reviews of your current setup and seeing if any areas need improvements can be the difference between downtime and smashing targets. Reliability is more important than people realise and we can be sure you’ll notice when it’s struggling.
FAQs
The main ways you’ll notice is from the loss of productivity and poor customer service. Yourself, your team and your customers will soon make you aware there’s problems with communication.
Areas which may seem like smaller issues can transfer into larger problems, such as missed opportunities and revenue loss.
Start by reviewing your current setup and see what might need improving. Sometimes it’s worth switching to a new provider to obtain good deals and improved connections. They may suggest a new handset or better SIM offers to keep you online without worry of interruptions.
It’s worth taking a look at your current mobile plan at least once a year. That way you can stay on top of offers and reduce the chances of downtime and productivity issues.
If you’re looking to upgrade your current business mobile structure, get in touch.