Poor business WiFi is becoming a hidden drag on UK productivity, warns Zen Internet

As MPs debate how to back British businesses and drive economic growth, new research from Zen Internet suggests many SMEs are still being held back by something far more basic: unreliable in-building connectivity.

According to research commissioned by Zen, UK small businesses lose an average of 11 hours a week due to WiFi disruption, despite growing access to full fibre broadband.

Half of senior business decision makers say poor WiFi coverage inside their premises limits the value they get from broadband connectivity, while 39% say connectivity issues are directly causing lost revenue.

The findings come as economic growth and business productivity are once again dominating the political agenda, with MPs today debating measures aimed at supporting UK businesses and improving growth.

Jon Nowell, managing director of Zen’s business division, said reliable connectivity should now be viewed as essential business infrastructure rather than simply an IT consideration.

“Small businesses are under pressure to operate faster, serve customers seamlessly and rely more heavily on cloud-based systems, digital payments and connected devices than ever before.

“But too many businesses still have a disconnect between the broadband coming into the building and the actual experience staff and customers are getting day to day.

“You can have access to full fibre, but if the WiFi inside the premises isn’t reliable, businesses still lose productivity, sales opportunities and operational efficiency.”

Zen’s research found:
23% of businesses say connectivity disruption impacts communication with customers or suppliers
22% say it prevents them running cloud-based tools
22% say it directly slows down operations
22% say it contributes to lost sales or missed opportunities
21% say it disrupts digital payments

Almost half (47%) of business leaders surveyed said they would feel more confident in their company’s success if they could improve connectivity reliability.

Nowell added:
“We often talk about productivity in terms of skills, investment and innovation, but digital reliability has become just as fundamental.

“For many SMEs, poor in-building connectivity is now a hidden operational cost. If businesses are expected to modernise and grow, the technology experience inside offices, retail spaces and hospitality venues has to keep pace too.”

Zen recently launched eero Business, combining fibre broadband with mesh WiFi technology designed to improve coverage and reliability across business premises. The system is aimed at smaller organisations looking to improve performance across connected devices, cloud systems and customer-facing services. To learn more: zen.co.uk/business