In an age where the customer experience (CX) matters more than ever, a new study has found that poor user experience with public Wi-Fi meant that only 14% of APAC users connect to public Wi-Fi most or all the time.
The inaugural Asia Pacific (APAC) State of Wi-Fi study by Ruckus Networks also discovered that slow Wi-Fi connection speeds are the top concern of business and IT leaders in the region.
Some 1,200 business across eight markets were surveyed, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, India, Singapore and Indonesia.
Unsurprisingly, bad Wi-Fi was attributed to the loss of productivity and the source of head-scratching as organizations are forced to devote time and resources to manage Wi-Fi or network-related issues.
Nine in ten business and IT leaders in APAC (90%) and Singapore (89%) agree that a bad Wi-Fi experience will negatively affect the brand reputation. This was attributed to how Wi-Fi often serves as the first and fundamental point of interaction between an organization and its customers.
Despite the proliferation of mobile connectivity, Wi-Fi remains a crucial linchpin to the internet: Nearly half of the respondents in APAC (49%) and Singapore (43%) reported they carry at least four Wi-Fi capable devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops and smart watches.
“Business and IT leaders today not only expect fast Wi-Fi, but they also rely on a seamless and dependable Wi-Fi experience while they are traveling, in the office or at a public venue. These attributes enable them to have the freedom to work anywhere, anytime and ensure a high level of productivity,” said William Ho, the senior vice president of Asia Pacific and Japan at Arris. Arris acquired Ruckus last year.
“Establishing great Wi-Fi connectivity with superior user experience is the basis of flexible work practices and a connected global economy,” he said.
First published in CMO Innovation