Small to medium-size businesses (SMBs) are becoming more
sophisticated
in their technology purchases and are embracing solutions such as
software as a service (SAAS) and managed services, a report from the
Computing
Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), a non-profit information
technology trade association reveals. A survey of more than 400 SMBs
across the United States found nearly
30 percent of them plan to implement SAAS solutions in 2010 to lower
costs and
maintain their competitive edge, up from 22 percent and 14 percent,
respectively,
in the two prior years.
Thirty percent of SMBs said they intend to implement managed
services
solutions in 2010. Since 42 percent of SMBs do not have a formal IT
department,
relying instead on workers handling IT needs on a part-time basis,
CompTIA Vice President of Research Tim Herbert said the managed
services model is ideally
suited to fill this skills gap. Herbert said the CompTIA study also
indicates
SMBs are placing increasing importance on technology solutions that
drive
revenues, produce immediate results to the bottom line and have a
direct,
positive impact on the customer’s experience.
This is reflected in their growing adoption of enterprise resource
planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and other such solutions
in 2009. “Between 70 percent and 80 percent of the SMBs we surveyed consider
the usage of ERP, CRM and online e-commerce capabilities as strategic to their
business,” said Herbert. “IT solutions that are tied to instant return on
investment in business communication and customer outreach efforts have the
highest likelihood of adoption.”
The CompTIA study also identified key core values that SMBs look for in
their technology providers: 86 percent demand partners that truly understand
their business needs; and 83 percent want partners who are able to provider
scalable solutions. Survey responses also suggested SMBs are looking to
maximize their IT investment by making better use of existing technologies,
people and budgets.
Though the survey shows SMBs are somewhat upbeat about business
prospects in 2010 – with seven in 10 expecting positive revenue growth – they
also expressed a desire to keep current IT systems operational for a longer
timeframe. Herbert said SMBs are challenged by lean IT budgets and are looking
to reduce the complexity and cost of maintaining their IT infrastructure, and
the inability to integrate existing legacy products and services with emerging
technologies also causes them anxiety.
“Technology providers may be well advised to approach SMBs with either
new IT solutions that represent low perceived risk or replacement solutions
that positively impact productivity and efficiency,” Herbert said. “There‘s
also an opportunity to provide ongoing maintenance services to help SMBs better
manage their IT systems under current business conditions.”
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