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Story URL: http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/voipsecurity/0,3800013656,39165507,00.htm

SMEs falling short on tech investment
Not putting in enough time or money, says analyst...

By Tim Ferguson

Published: Monday 29 January 2007

Small and medium-sized enterprises are failing to invest enough time and money in IT and communications, according to research.

The majority (93 per cent) of SMEs surveyed by BT Business are not investing enough in tech, while almost half are failing to carry out tech reviews that could reduce costs and long-term inefficiencies.

Rob Bamforth, analyst with Quocirca, said: "SMEs might be missing out on things that could really make a difference."

But Bamforth explained SMEs have other more direct and immediate concerns about the "day to day problem of keeping the business going". Tech investment takes a back seat as a result.

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According to Bamforth, there is an improving picture as IT service companies start to address the SME market after previously focusing on bigger players.

If these service businesses can take the complexity of IT away from SMEs - such as hosting VoIP services - Bamforth said they will embrace IT more readily.

The BT Business Tech Mass Index Calculator surveyed more than 150 SMEs in an online survey.

Read how SMEs could be using ecommerce to further their horizons here.