The rapidly growing adoption of mobile email is bypassing many small businesses according to research from O2. Despite clear productivity benefits, nearly half of those questioned with 50 or less employees do not currently use mobile email.
Many small businesses also do not have a strategy in place to implement mobile email solutions or manage their mobile communications generally. 61% of those questioned have no formal IT or mobile communications strategy and less than half (44%) of those that do thought they were making the most of it.
Unsurprisingly, cost was the key reason for many of those questioned not to implement mobile email or make more of their mobile communications services. A third gave cost and ROI considerations as the main reason for not making more of mobile communications and mobile email. The industry as a whole is seeing a move towards flat rate mobile data charging and O2 will later this month simplify its mobile data pricing for SMEs with new great value tariffs. These include a new all-you-can-eat Web bolt-on tariff for handsets and new Web Max tariff for laptop and data card users.
“We find time and time again with small businesses that perceived cost and complexity is holding them back from adopting mobile email solutions, despite all the benefits their business can gain from them,” said Simon Devonshire, Head of SME Business Marketing, O2 UK. “Initiatives like the webinar are designed to help explode many of the myths around mobile email and provide practical advice for SMEs on getting the right solutions to fit their business.”