How unreliable tech could be costing your business thousands every year

Successful businesses often use tech innovations to help them grow.

But with the fast-changing nature of the modern tech landscape, many Australian small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) struggle to make it work.

To find out more, Vodafone Business commissioned YouGov to perform a survey of Australian small business owners, asking over 300 SMB senior decision makers about their tech and business challenges in 2026.

The results were eye-opening, with unreliable tech costing an estimated $3.75 billion each year.

Confessions and chaos from tech-strategy gaps

When considering tech solutions, 52% of decision makers decided to wing it, using technology without a clear strategy.

From our respondents:

• 77% agree that plugging and playing without a strategy generates stressful business disruptions.
• 67% experience “digital frictions” (including IT troubleshooting and password resets).
• 60% say tech contributes to “blurred lines” around app use and business processes.

Unsurprisingly, these tech related stressors can lead to:

• operational inefficiencies (83%)
• workforce and culture strain (64%)
• financial or strategic impacts (57%).

Tech solutions offer new efficiencies and growth opportunities, but SMB owners need to use them strategically to realise their benefits. Take a look at how we are supporting our customers in setting them up for a successful 2026

Nearly all respondents (97%) were facing barriers to growth, with 52% saying technology and infrastructure presented significant challenges.

Barriers included:

• high-maintenance infrastructure (35%)
• old or malfunctioning devices (34%)
• slow or unreliable internet connections (34%).

About 80% experienced costly technological frustrations, including:

• security and maintenance (58%)
• hardware and software reliability (55%)
• connectivity or collaboration (52%).

Over half (69%) of respondents said unreliable tech caused financial losses.

That cost? An average of $3,794 each over the last financial year.

Tech reliability has the potential to put a handbrake on growth. If the cost of upgrading or rethinking your processes is less than what you’re potentially losing, that’s a clear sign to act.

Future readiness and ambition

Despite these frustrations, 72% of decision makers remained optimistic about growth over the next 12 months. This is despite 91.2% also expressing uncertainties regarding tech’s future impact on the business landscape.

These uncertainties include:

• AI-powered cyberattacks, deepfakes, and cloud risks (69.2%)
• data ownership and loss of human connection (56.6%)
• potential operational and skills gaps (50.3%)
• financial and vendor dependencies (46.7%).

Bottom line: Optimism persists, with tech readiness and shifting business landscapes not taking the shine off the apple.

Tech is causing a work-life blur

Business owners are already happily ensconced in the digital realm, with 58% of respondents calling their laptop an “essential device” for running their business.

Laptop uses:

• work focused (96%)
• personal use (79%)
• remote work (69%)
• managing personal life and wellbeing (44%)
• connecting with family and friends (43%).

This freedom does seem to come at a cost, with work spilling into personal spaces. Half of respondents (50%) say they often work outside traditional business hours (9am – 5pm), with 33% doing so weekly and 17% daily.

Without proper guardrails, mobile tech makes it easy for work to creep into other parts of business owners’ lives.

What does this mean for Australian businesses?

SMB owners know that technical issues can cause productivity loss and increased costs.

Yet their optimism remains. The business owners surveyed may have recognised these barriers to growth for what they are, but that also means that they can navigate these challenges.

This optimism also might be why SMBs are winging it, using tech solutions without a plan. Getting that plan in place isn’t easy, which is why Vodafone Business Centres can put you in touch with a trusted business specialist to give you clarity around your current needs and the equipment that works.

The rampant adoption of portable tech has also changed how business owners operate, with work tasks flooding out of office hours and into personal spaces. Time will tell how much of an impact this has, and whether it’s good or bad.

Help is at hand

Does this sound like you?

Well, reliable connections can help. So can advice from a trusted source.

Vodafone Business helps you do more business in more places. Not just with 5G network availability. Not just fast uploads, or coverage that reaches 98.5% of the population. But also with simple bundles, dedicated account managers, locally operated call centres, and business specialists ready to help you find the tech that works for you. Find out more – visit our team plans page or request a callback using this handy contact form.