Your Kak Tech is Costing Your Company R30 Million Per 1,000 Employees – Seriously.

Imagine you're losing up to R30-million *per thousand* employees because your office computers are slower than your gran's dial-up. That's not hyperbole, that's the reality according to a new study. Seriously. We're talking about real money – money that could be going into better salaries, more resources for the team, or even a decent December bonus. Instead, it’s vanishing into the ether thanks to kak tech. ## So, What's This Study Actually About? Altron Digital Business (ADB) just dropped a bombshell with their Employee Technology Experience Index (TEXI). This isn't some theoretical exercise, bru. This is a deep dive into how your employees *actually feel* about the tech they use every day, and how that feeling impacts the bottom line. They looked at eight major institutions in the financial services sector, and the results? Let's just say they’re not lekker. The study, undertaken by Lightspeed (part of the Kantar Group), isn't just about ticking boxes on IT support tickets. It's about understanding how tech directly influences things like productivity, job satisfaction, and even whether your employees would recommend your company to others. As ADB MD Craig Stewart puts it, this “shifts the conversation from IT support metrics to strategic performance indicators that belong in the boardroom.” Finally, someone's talking sense. ## R30-Million Per 1,000 Employees? Is That Even Real? Okay, let’s unpack that R30-million figure. It’s not a single, neat loss. It's an estimate of the combined impact of lost productivity, unhappy staff, and the general drag of frustrating tech. The study found that technology-related disruption is estimated to cost between R3.2-million and R30-million per 1,000 employees *each year*. Jislaaik. That's a massive range, sure, but even the lower end is a serious hit. Think about it. How much time do your employees waste waiting for slow systems to load? How many opportunities are lost because of tech glitches? And how much does it cost to replace staff who leave because they’re fed up with a befok IT experience? It's not just about the computers being slow, either. It’s about the whole ecosystem – the network, the software, the support… the whole shebang. ## The 'Visibility Gap': Why Your IT Department Doesn't Know Half the Problem Here’s where it gets scary, boet. Over 28% of employees have *stopped* reporting IT issues entirely. Let that sink in. Nearly a third of your workforce is silently suffering, probably finding workarounds that are less secure and less efficient. And worse? Over half are using their own devices or unauthorized tools to get their work done. Craig Stewart calls this the “visibility gap”, and it's a massive governance and information security risk. Imagine the potential for data breaches, compliance issues, and general chaos. Your IT department thinks everything is running smoothly, but underneath the surface, it’s probably a kak show. This is a problem that many boards, according to Stewart, may not even be aware of. ## AI is Here, But Are We Ready? (Spoiler: Probably Not) Everyone's talking about AI, right? But are we actually prepared for it? The study found that 82% of employees are already using AI tools in their daily work. That’s a high number, but here’s the kicker: fewer than 25% feel prepared for an AI-enabled future. Nearly 30% are relying on self-sourced AI tools *outside* of employer-sanctioned environments. That's shadow IT on steroids. It’s a breeding ground for security vulnerabilities and compliance nightmares. You can't just let everyone loose with ChatGPT and hope for the best. You need a proper strategy, clear guidelines, and robust security protocols. Otherwise, you're asking for trouble. ## IT Support: The Secret Weapon You're Probably Ignoring Forget the flashy new gadgets and the latest software. The study revealed that quality IT support is the *biggest* driver of employee satisfaction. Seriously. It has the highest correlation with workforce outcomes tracked at board level. A responsive, helpful IT team can make all the difference between a productive employee and a frustrated one. Think about your own experience. When your internet is down, or your laptop is playing up, who do you call? And how do you feel when they actually fix the problem quickly and efficiently? That's the kind of IT support that makes a difference. It's not about throwing money at the problem; it's about investing in people who can actually help. ## Beyond the Buzzwords: What Does This Mean for Your Business? This isn’t just an IT problem, it’s a business problem. It’s time to stop viewing tech as a cost centre and start seeing it as a strategic investment. Your technology is directly impacting your employee experience, your customer experience, and ultimately, your bottom line. The study, based on input from 385 employees, shows a 105-point employee net promoter score gap between those with positive and poor tech experiences. 88% of employees agree that technology enables their best work, but that number plummets when the tech is frustrating and unreliable. 47% report that technology friction has negatively affected customer or colleague interactions. The cost of a poor technology experience is no longer theoretical. As Stewart says, “We can now put a rand value on it – and that changes everything.” **Verdict:** The findings are clear: your tech is either a competitive advantage or a crippling liability. Ignoring the employee technology experience is costing you serious money, potentially up to R30-million per 1,000 employees. Invest in quality IT support, address the visibility gap, and get a handle on AI before it bites you in the backside. **Now, are your company’s cybersecurity protocols as outdated as your dad’s Nokia 3310? Click here to find out.**