Small businesses could lose £12000 a day without a smartphone, shows survey

Not having a smartphone for a day could result in a small business losing up to £12,000, according to a survey from Vodafone.

The report, which was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Vodafone, surveyed over 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses from the UK and found that not having a smartphone could cost each business four opportunities worth £3,000 each in a day.

Insurance

The survey also found that one-fifth of respondents have lost or damaged their phone or had it stolen, and 55 per cent have mobile phone insurance.

Vodafone is now aiming to help small businesses by providing replacements for lost, stolen or damaged phones.

The service, called Vodafone Rapid, will enable small businesses to have access to a mobile phone within four hours of making an approved insurance claim.

The phones will be delivered by dedicated scooter drivers to small businesses in London and by couriers to businesses outside of the capital.

Businesses that do not receive a replacement phone within four hours will receive a £10 bonus for every hour, up to a total of £40.

Critical

Vodafone UK Enterprise Director Phil Mottram said: “When the potential loss of new business opportunities equates to billions of pounds for small businesses country-wide, and more importantly could mean that a small business misses out on that vital call, it’s business critical to get replacement phones into the hands of business owners as quickly as possible when they find their mobile is lost, stolen or damaged.”

Commenting on the service, he stated that Vodafone Rapid will get the country’s small businesses “back up and running” with a replacement mobile phone within just four hours.