Small businesses are missing out on more customers by not adopting these new tech trends.
Adopting new technology remains a challenge for small businesses—and owners are missing out on happy customers because of it.
Seventy-four percent of small businesses that offer Wi-Fi at their locations see business benefits from a higher rate of customer satisfaction, repeat business and more time and revenue spent within their businesses, according to a survey by Time Warner Cable Business Class (TWCBC). The survey, released yesterday, focused on understanding the challenges business owners are facing when adopting new tech and network security.
Survey results show that owners have room to grow their customer base using Wi-Fi, as only 32 percent of businesses offer free Wi-Fi at their locations. Similarly, there’s growth potential in social media use at small businesses. Nearly two-thirds of small business owners do not use social media to better understand their customers.
“As the world and consumers become more connected, businesses need to continue to understand and implement technology that makes their business more secure, efficient and attractive to customers,” said Brian Allen, GVP Chief Security Officer Legal and Security, Time Warner Cable Business Class.
Securing networks remains a top challenge for small business owners, the survey showed. Twenty-seven percent said they do not have a security solution in place at all, proving that more education needs to be in place to help small business owners understand cybersecurity threats. Two bills passed in the House last week to help combat the growing number of online threats against small companies, but some say that in order for the legislation to have an impact, it needs to include guidelines that would help educate the small business community.
