FSB details obstacles small businesses face online
Research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has highlighted some of the challenges facing small firms in the online marketplace, including poor broadband speeds and fake online reviews.
The FSB has said that poor broadband and mobile connections are affecting businesses, citing its digital infrastructure report Lost Connection. In the report, the FSB found that 30 per cent of small businesses in the North West of England had broadband speeds that failed to meet their business needs.
On top of this, 35 per cent said that their broadband was insufficient for their needs going forward, while 36 per cent complained that they suffered from poor mobile phone connections.
32 per cent of businesses polled said that these issues were preventing them from contacting or being contacted by their customers as well as potential clients, while 26 per cent cited unreliable mobile connection as a reason for lost business and sales.
According to the FSB, 52 per cent of businesses want full-fibre broadband at the earliest opportunity. The federation has called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to stick to his promise to deliver nationwide full fibre or gigabit capable broadband by 2025 and urged the Government, the broadband industry and regulators to ensure the rollout of full fibre.
FSB National Chairman Mike Cherry said: “Unfortunately, an unreliable internet connection and poor phone signal are familiar challenges across the UK.
“Trying to communicate with new and potential clients while you can’t access your emails or your phone signal drops out is not only frustrating but, as we see in this new research, causes the loss of vital business.”
“This is hugely problematic for a small firms, hampering the productivity of the UK’s army of small businesses and sole traders. These findings are particularly stark in rural areas.”
The FSB has also highlighted how small UK firms are losing sales to rival foreign companies, who are said to be targeting shoppers with fake product reviews on sites such as Amazon and eBay.
