UK businesses counting the cost of poor communications
Large businesses could be losing more than £4 million annually as a result of poor communications capabilities, according to new research.
Mitel claim that poor collaboration and communications practices are impacting on productivity, which costs in the region of £8,000 per employee every year.
Meanwhile, another independent study from Webtorials and Opinium found that workers waste almost an entire day every week on inefficient working practices.
That study revealed that UK workers spend an average of 43 hours every week – and more than two-thirds of their working day – communicating and collaborating with others.
Employees spend a fifth of their day writing and responding to emails, yet the vast majority suggested it was an inefficient means of communication.
Instead, 80% of those aged under 30 said they use the telephone as the predominant method of contacting others in the workplace.
An over-reliance on certain forms of communication was found to be costing UK businesses, with the study suggesting that flexible options are a necessity in the current economy.
By being able to communicate seamlessly from any device at a time that suits them, employees are able to adopt more efficient ways of working.
Businesses need to therefore recognise what options are available to them and should take appropriate action to keep costs down.
Such outlays could be better used for research and development, product marketing or any number of other approaches that could boost growth.
Instead, businesses face losing out, with smaller firms operating on tight margins likely to be hit hardest as they lack the finances to cover any additional costs.
While a host of alternative finance options exist to help companies to grow and consolidate their positions, many can help themselves by reducing any unnecessary outlays at the first opportunity.
If a business does have concerns about its efficiency, undertaking an independent business review may also reveal aspects of business that could be streamlined or removed entirely.
Such practices are designed to ensure that a business can have a strategy that can deliver a financially secure future, whereby all business risks are taken into account.
By Phil Smith