According to The Federation of Small
Businesses (FSB), there are 4.3 million small businesses in the
UK who employ more than 12 million people or around 58% of the
private sector workforce.
A recent survey by BT Business pointed out
that 93% of the SMEs studied were not investing enough in
technology and that around half failed to carry out technology
related reviews that could significantly reduce costs and
inefficiencies.
Brunel University conducted research on how
long it took staff to conduct various business tasks. The
conclusion to their investigation finds there was little
evidence that broadband was revolutionising SMEs. The
researchers highlighted the case of a rural marketing company
where getting broadband actually made staff less productive -
while staff had begun to send information electronically to
customers they were also still sending a hard copy in the post.
From Delphi's own studies we have found that
when questioned, SME's would like to investigate the
possibilities that IT could play but the main barriers are:
- Lack of resources to obtain information and explore the
opportunities of technology
- Unawareness of the strategic and business benefits that
technology can provide
- Management structures are generally built around work
related issues and not around activities that can support
the work. For example, lack of a suitably trained IT person
who can assist in providing technology based solutions and
then implement and maintain them. This is not a criticism
of the SME but rather the conundrum that many face at a
particular stage of their growth.
- Cost VS benefit - SMEs are generally quite sceptical of
the benefits of technology when a cost is associated with it
- take the cost away and the reverse is true!
Very few SMEs doubt that technology is an
enabler and it is interesting to note that the question of cost
is often the first question that is asked as opposed to say, pay
back period or efficiency gain.
Quite often, once a small low cost technology
solution is introduced and the benefit is appreciated then the
resistance level is reduced and indeed the business owner is all
too ready for more.
Competitiveness can also become an issue in a
world where business related costs generally rise, e.g. labour,
taxation, fuel. Failure to introduce and keep abreast of new
technologies can leave many SMEs working in the dark ages when
compared to others in the same sector.
This is particularly apparent to us for those
involved in the construction and allied trades. Newer, younger
entrants are all too willing to embrace and seek out technology
that can assist them whilst older, more established SMEs are
still questioning the usefulness and cost. It is perhaps due to
a different generation but consider that this is not a
generation gap in its traditional sense but one that spans
approximately 10-15 years.
By enabling the UK's SMEs to take full
advantage of new technologies, not only do we improve their
competitiveness, but we also improve the competitiveness of the
UK economy as a whole.
If your would like to discuss your needs or
would like a technology review to be carried out then please
email
us
or call 0208 440 1669 for further
information.
