New
research from global
IT trade association CompTIA, has shown that
UK
small to medium businesses (SMBs) are leaders when it comes to
evaluating emerging technologies and recognising the competitive
benefits that they bring.
According to the survey of IT decision makers in over 520
businesses in five vertical markets, two-thirds of UK SMBs are
‘constantly’ evaluating new technologies, compared with 51% in the
US and 39% in Canada.
In addition, just over half of UK SMBs (52%) are convinced that
new technology is critical to staying ahead of the competition. In
the US only 45% are, whilst even fewer Canadian companies, just
30%, are persuaded of new technology’s potential competitive
benefits.
“UK businesses are significantly ahead of the game when it comes
to emerging technologies,” says Matthew Poyiadgi, CompTIA’s
European VP. “This is largely due to their employees. Nearly
three-quarters of UK SMBs say that their IT staff are on top of new
technologies. In the US and Canada approximately half have the
same confidence in their people.”
As well as their openness to emerging technologies, UK SMBs are
the most environmentally conscious.
Environmentally sound IT practice was voted as the top priority
by 37% of the UK companies surveyed. Green IT was only fourth for
US companies, and failed to make the top five of Canadian
businesses’ concerns.