Internet outage: 3 consequences for SMEs

Businesses of all sizes can suffer the consequences of an Internet outage. With more limited resources, SMEs are sometimes more vulnerable to these. An Internet outage can have an exorbitant cost. According to Forbes, businesses would lose an average of $100,000 for every hour of outage in 2017, which now must be much higher.

Here are some of the consequences an Internet outage can have on organizations.

1) Temporary drop in profitability

Transactions by credit or debit card may be interrupted by a network outage. After all, payment terminals are connected devices that read bank cards and smart phones. A customer who cannot use their card to pay in-store when they are there is not likely to wait around until the issue is resolved. They will look for a plan B.

The store ends up with a shortfall, making them fall behind their sales objectives for that period. When a store’s connection is lost, there’s a risk of losing customers and there may be lower profitability for the period in question.

2) Significant drop in productivity

When an employee is unable to access the different systems needed to perform their duties, their productivity is inevitably affected. If an entire team is paralyzed as a result of an Internet outage, the business ends up with a significant drop in productivity. And as long as the problem remains unresolved, the teams are left at a standstill.

3) Limited ability to deliver the promised experience

Hotels and restaurants are deploying more and more technologies in their establishments. For instance, they use advancements in dynamic advertising to improve the customer experience, transform the menu, and optimize their sale initiatives.

A network outage can unfortunately temporarily diminish the benefits of this digital transformation. Unless they have a backup technology on hand, the restaurant’s staff will have to trade their iPads for a pen and notepad to take orders. And customers will have to settle their bill with cash… or by washing the dishes!

To access the full article outlining the steps to diagnose and resolve internet outages, simply click on this link: Internet outages: the ultimate guide for protecting your business | Videotron Business Blog