UK business leaders are reportedly losing an average of £3,462 in revenue annually due to running out of mobile data. A survey of 1,000 decision-makers and business leaders who depend on mobile data revealed that 56% of those who had exhausted their data in the past two years suffered financial losses as a result. The most significant disruptions caused by a lack of data included an inability to process payments (35%), customers being unable to make contact (34%) and loss of access to essential business apps (33%).
Interestingly, nearly half (45%) claimed that running out of mobile data would be more detrimental to their business than running out of stock. Furthermore, 54% stated it would cause them more problems than having no power at all, with a whopping 90% asserting that connectivity is the ‘lifeblood’ of their business.
Mayuresh Thavapalan, commercial and marketing director for Sky Business, which commissioned the OnePoll research, said: “Fear of running out [of data] can be a real problem for small and medium (SME) business owners. While once upon a time, you only needed a physical space and stock to sell your wares, now there’s another vital resource businesses depend on every day.
“When mobile data dries up, so can the payments, purchases, deliveries, and all-important customer service.”
The study also discovered that a third of those surveyed said their staff lose access to data at least once a month, due to caps being reached earlier than expected (37%), and unexpected surges (30%).
To try and prevent this from occurring, 94% implement safeguards including setting data alerts, purchasing unlimited contracts and utilising data-saving applications. A quarter even go so far as to check usage on a daily basis.
A third of respondents admitted they would judge another business if their customer experience was interrupted due to data-related problems. With 33% saying they would reconsider using the same services again.
Mayuresh Thavapalan for Sky Business, which has recently launched Sky Business mobile, a business plan which automatically rolls over unused data and shares it with the team, added: “The research clearly shows that running out of data doesn’t just have a tangible impact on current opportunities but can have long-term impact on loyalty and reputation.
“Eliminating waste while ensuring connectivity is a sure-fire way to keep your SME running efficiently and, most importantly, ensuring happy customers that will keep coming back again and again.”