Internet is an integral part of everyday personal and business life. According to Statista, there are 4.66 billion active users on the internet worldwide. Further internet stats reveal 65.6 of the global population have internet access, and users spend an average of six hours and 56 minutes online each day.

Slow internet connections make it difficult to perform various tasks and are especially problematic for businesses, as they can result in significant challenges to overcome. Here are some ways that slow internet connections can affect your business and what you can do to prevent them.

Poor Productivity

Weak internet hurts business. While it is possible to perform some tasks without it, you still need to store files in the cloud, add information to databases, and send emails regularly. One study reported 83% of employees said they could only be productive without the internet for less than half the day. It also found that 65% of employees reported their video calls interrupted or disconnected altogether.

Slow internet connections can result in a loss of revenue. For example, slow page loads lead to customer dissatisfaction as 47% of consumers report they will only wait two seconds for a page to load before leaving. Unresponsive and slow sites are also ranked lower by Google, which means a decrease in web traffic.

Operational Failure

Today’s applications rely on the internet. Without it, users often can’t perform tasks or retrieve data. A slow connection can disrupt daily work. When you consider 29% of business is conducted online, slow internet can have a damaging effect.

Today’s users access websites using multiple devices, including tablets and smartphones. The last thing you want is for them to experience crashes or page load errors when accessing your website, as this affects your bottom line. Research reveals 38% of mobile users report encountering unavailable sites while 51% experience crashes or freezing.

Morale

Slow internet also affects the morale of your employees. One study found slow connections cost employees approximately one week of productivity, resulting in frustration. This is a top IT issue for companies that can make a significant impact on the bottom line and the effectiveness of their employees. More than anything, these factors affect how well people work and how they feel about their jobs. If dealing with slow internet on a daily basis, morale will likely take a turn for the worse.

Lost Revenue

A slow internet connection can have a direct impact to your bottom line. Customers who find your site unreliable and unresponsive will go somewhere else to purchase the same products and services, resulting in lost revenue. New Google research found 53% of mobile visitors will leave if a page fails to load in three seconds or less. This can result in a significant loss in sales. According to another report, 70% of consumers said page speed impacts their willingness to buy from an online retailer.

How to Improve

You can improve your company’s internet speed by ensuring you have the right amount of bandwidth. You may also consider using wired connections and upgrading your current network infrastructure if it is outdated.

A managed services provider can help you determine your exact internet needs and help increase your bottom line. Connect with a TPx representative to learn how to select the best business internet plan for your business.