(Relay: Raleigh, NC) -- Frontline teams are locked in a daily battle against their own tools. The constant firefighting, the unpredictable costs, and the operational chaos create a high-stress environment that hurts morale and the bottom line. Relay’s new survey data from more than 500 industrial professionals reveal that 72% of frontline staff believe a proactive approach to technology would directly reduce their stress.

The daily breakdown

A system designed to fail: The cycle begins with a shocking failure rate—more than one-third (37%) of frontline communication devices fail every single day, crippled by predictable issues like battery drain (48%), connectivity failures (48%), and physical damage (47%).

A black hole for productivity: This daily failure forces teams into a reactive mode. The result? One of every four organizations lose more than an entire day of productivity every month just dealing with the administrative fallout of troubleshooting, repairing, and replacing their broken and unreliable technology.

The domino effect on business

A 6-figure problem: The financial drain is immense and often untracked. Data show that nearly one-third of companies (32%) are losing more than $100,000 every year from the combined costs of device failures, downtime, and lost productivity.

Innovation, interrupted: Strategic progress comes to a halt. Nearly half of all companies (48%) have been forced to delay or completely cancel critical projects, from new safety initiatives to efficiency upgrades, because their frontline communication tech simply couldn’t keep up.

The talent drain

Your best people want to do their best work, but they won’t fight a losing battle against bad technology forever. One in four frontline workers already feel their equipment is second-class compared to what their corporate counterparts use, pushing them to quit.

The loyalty link: The link between modern tools and loyalty is undeniable. 43% of frontline workers state they would be less likely to quit their jobs if they were guaranteed access to modern, automatically upgraded devices.

The root of the cycle: Budgeting chaos

This vicious cycle continues because the system is built on uncertainty. More than 60% of companies operate with unpredictable or nonexistent budgets for their frontline technology. This traps managers in a constant state of reaction, forcing them to firefight instead of future-proof.

Introducing the Relay Fleet Shield Program: Break the cycle

The Relay Fleet Shield Program is the definitive end to operational downtime and budget surprises. It transforms hardware from an operational headache and volatile capital expenditure into a predictable, managed service that serves as a reliable, always-on foundation for your team’s success.

Unbreakable guarantees

Proactive next-day replacement: Relay intelligently monitors device health. If a device fails for any covered operational reason, including a worn-out battery (the No. 1 issue in the industry), a full replacement is shipped by the next day, before you even send the old one back.

$75 fleet refresh at renewal: Eliminate long-term wear and tear. At the conclusion of their initial term, customers renewing their service plan can replace every device in their fleet with new, same-generation models for only $75 each, ensuring peak performance.

The Fleet Shield upgrade guarantee: Never fall behind. This guarantee gives customers the right to upgrade their entire fleet to the newest-generation models at 50% off MSRP, providing a clear and cost-effective path to the future.

A partnership, not a penalty: Accidents happen. Lost or broken devices are replaced for a simple 50% discount. Relay acts as your partner, ending the cycle of being punished and taken advantage of for the realities of a tough job.

Visit Relay to learn how the Fleet Shield Program can transform your operations.