How to Calculate the True Cost of a Poor Mobile Solution

Hidden Costs of Ineffective Mobile Apps

Introduction

If your team relies on a mobile solution that’s slow to sync, unreliable offline, and leaves users struggling for the data and features they need, the true cost is measured in more than just dollars—it’s measured in hours of lost productivity. Here’s how to quantify the wasted time (and ultimately, wasted money) of sticking with a mobile platform that isn’t up to the job. Don’t let the “Sunk Cost” fallacy prevent you from using a mobile platform that works!

Step 1: Identify the Key Time Wasters

Start by documenting the specific pain points that are costing your users valuable time. Common culprits include:

Slow Data Sync in the Morning: Users waiting for data to load or sync before starting their day.
Missing Data: Users unable to access the complete information needed to complete tasks, causing delays, additional calls/emails for clarification, or lost time looking for a connection.
Data Loss After Offline Work: Work completed offline is lost due to poor syncing, forcing users to redo tasks.
Features Requiring Connectivity: Critical app functions only work with an internet connection, creating downtime in low- or no-coverage areas.
Lost User Trust: Once users lose trust in your mobile app they’ll revert back to what they know – usually paper. And set aside time at the end of the shift or on a less busy day to enter time, work logs, complete work, and update other data.

Step 2: Measure the Lost Time

For each pain point, estimate the average time lost per user per day. Gather input from your team or observe usage patterns to get realistic numbers. For example:

Morning Sync Delay:
Average delay per user: 10 minutes
Number of users: 150
Total lost time per day: 10 min x 150 = 1500 minutes (25 hours per day)
Missing Data Workarounds:
Average extra time spent: 5 minutes
Frequency: 2 times per day
Users: 150
Total: 5 min x 2 x 150 = 1500 minutes (25 hours per day)
Data Loss & Re-entry:
Incidents per week: 3
Average time to redo work: 20 minutes
Users affected: 60
Total: 3 x 20 x 60 = 3,600 minutes (60 hours per week)
Connectivity-Dependent Features:
Average downtime per user: 15 minutes
Frequency: 3 times per week
Users: 90
Total: 15 x 3 x 90 = 4,050 minutes (67.5 hours per week)

Step 3: Calculate the Financial Impact

To turn wasted time into a dollar figure, multiply the total lost hours by the average hourly cost of your field staff.

Example Calculation:
Total lost hours per week: 25 x 5 + 25 x 5 + 60 + 67.5 = 377.5 hours
Average staff cost/hour: $35
Weekly cost of wasted time: 377.5 x $35 = $13,212.50

Annual cost (assuming 50 work weeks): $13,212.50 x 50 = $660,625

Step 4: Factor in Opportunity Costs

Beyond payroll costs, consider:

Lost Revenue: Delays may mean missed jobs, missed SLAs, slower response times, and dissatisfied customers.
Employee Satisfaction: Frustration with tools can increase turnover, training, and recruitment costs.
Data Quality Issues: Incomplete or lost data can result in compliance risks or service errors.

Step 5: Build your Business Case

With these numbers in hand, you can clearly show leadership the ongoing cost of not upgrading to a more reliable, efficient mobile solution. Comparing this to the cost of adopting a new platform often makes the investment an easy decision.

Conclusion

Wasted time is wasted money. If your mobile solution is slowing your team down, use this framework to measure the impact and make a strong case for change. Upgrading your technology isn’t just an IT improvement—it’s a business necessity.