Britons could reclaim more than three weeks of unproductive time each year by managing their lives more efficiently from their mobile phones while on the move, according to research by VodafoneThree.
Weekly time losses
The average person wastes nearly two hours a week commuting and over an hour sitting in waiting rooms. Picking up children and other dependents also consumes more than an hour of potentially useful time.
In total, Brits' unproductive time exceeds 10 hours a week, far more than in Hungary, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea. If the UK adopted the on-the-go mentality of Hungary, which ranked as the most productive in the study, Brits could reclaim 22 days a year.
Potential gains and digital barriers
The biggest gains could come from simple everyday tasks such as accessing and collaborating on work documents, taking calls while commuting, and joining remote NHS consultations. The research also found that many Brits still feel tied to fixed locations, with a third reluctant to leave home or office Wi-Fi and almost half tied to their desk for most of the working day.
This lack of flexibility extends beyond the working week, with 34% saying their weekend to-do list would be shorter if they could be more productive on the go.
Network investment and outlook
VodafoneThree is investing £11 billion to improve the UK's mobile networks, with 5G Standalone coverage set to reach 99% of the population by 2030 and 99.96% by 2034.
Andrea Donà, chief network officer at VodafoneThree, said: “Boosting the UK’s productivity doesn’t have to mean spending more hours behind our desks. But to change the way the nation works, we need mobile networks that keep us connected to colleagues, technology and essential services on the move.
“The UK Government is rightly taking this issue seriously. With improvements to the planning system and regulations fit for the digital economy, our networks can help to make public services more accessible, close digital divides and lay the foundations for growth.”
