As many as four in five small businesses could be missing out on the benefits of flexible working by failing to link up fixed-line and mobile communications, new research suggests.

Olive Communications interviewed 200 IT managers at small and medium businesses in the UK and found 80 per cent had not invested in converged communications.

Of the businesses that had, more than seven in 10 reported cost savings, half said business continuity was better, nearly 40 per cent pointed to better customer service and 27 per cent said it helped implement flexible working patterns.

Of the businesses that had not upgraded their comms infrastructure, 31 per cent said they had “seriously considered” doing so.

“There’s a clear opportunity to improve processes and enhance the working experience,” says Martin Flick, CEO of Olive Communications.

“As work is increasingly becoming a thing you do and not a place you go, IT leaders should grasp the opportunity and embrace the tools and systems that enable a more flexible and productive approach to work.”