FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STUDY FINDS MAJORITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES LACK SUFFICIENT RESOURCES AND PROACTIVE MEASURES TO MANAGE AND SUPPORT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Free report at http://www.sbtechnologymagazine.org/snap reveals attitudes and considerations for IT budgeting, staffing, purchasing and support
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 15, 2007 – A report released today by the non-profit Small Business Technology Institute (SBTI) and Small Business Technology Magazine underscores the challenges that small businesses face in managing and supporting Information Technology (IT) systems.
The report is part of the Snap Insight Research Series, a program that studies the adoption and use of information technology among small businesses. Findings are published in a free report and webcast at http://www.sbtechnologymagazine.org/snap and will be featured in an upcoming print issue of Small Business Technology Magazine, the only print and online magazine in the U.S. that focuses on the technology needs of small businesses.
Major trends uncovered in the study:
- Small businesses tend to allocate very limited human and financial resources to support their IT functions;
- Small businesses approach IT support on a reactive basis;
- Small businesses rely heavily on the tactical support provided by product vendors.
Small businesses also revealed:
- How they currently manage IT equipment, including in-house and remote IT support services;
- Their expectations about the quality and availability of IT support from product vendors, including how it influences their purchasing decisions;
- Preferences about the geographical location of IT support, including a surprising glimpse into their attitudes about offshore support for IT systems/network infrastructure;
- Who makes the purchasing decisions for IT support services;
- The correlation between company size (based on number of employees) and budgeting for IT.
The small businesses we surveyed confirm that IT support is a burning issue that has a significant impact on their productivity and bottom line,” said Andrea Peiro, CEO of the Small Business Technology Institute and Publisher & Executive Editor of Small Business Technology Magazine. “57% of our respondents said they do not allocate personnel to support the IT functions, leaving the majority of IT decisions (73%) falling on the shoulders of the CEO or President. We see a clear opportunity for IT support organizations and product manufacturers to develop practices and services that ease this burden by fostering for simplicity and cost predictability when it comes to supporting their IT.”
About the Snap Insight Research Series
Snap Insight delivers concise, comprehensive knowledge on the adoption and use of information technology among small businesses in a multimedia package. It provides a fast, low-cost way to generate outstanding market knowledge, media interest and leveraged advertising exposure in a market comprised of more 20 million users that are estimated to spend more than $40 billion per year on technology.
Recent reports include:
- Small Employers Seek the Help of Technology to Manage Payroll;
- Entrepreneurs Go Untethered...For Good: A report on how notebook computers have emerged as the business weapon of choice among American entrepreneurs;
- Beyond the Hardware Edge: Analyzes how one-person businesses in the U.S. buy and use information technology.
Learn more at http://www.sbtechnologymagazine.org/snap.
About the Small Business Technology Institute (http://www.sbtechnologyinstitute.org)
The Small Business Technology Institute (SBTI) is a non-profit, public benefit corporation that fosters the adoption of information technology among small businesses. SBTI provides information technology awareness, education, consulting and support services to businesses with 1 to 300 employees with a focus on disadvantaged categories. SBTI also provides technology developers and vendors with market intelligence and knowledge to ensure the development of products that meet the needs of small businesses.
Media contact:
Sandy Munio
Small Business Technology Institute
sandy@sbtechnologyinstitute.org
408-494-0212 x115
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