Three in ten UK SMEs expect to fail in 2009, but a new
breed of "super SME" is set to beat the economic downturn using
IT.
Research by communications headset maker
Plantronics has found that
SMEs maintaining investment in IT infrastructure, staff
training and marketing are best placed to
survive the recession.
The commissioned survey of 1,096 owners, managers and IT
directors of SMEs found that while two-thirds (67%) of SMEs are
expecting to see a reduction in financial turnover in the next six
months, 21% indicate that the slowdown is either having no effect
on their business or that
business is booming.
These super SMEs have all increased or maintained levels of
investment in one of three key areas of IT infrastructure, staff
training and marketing, and are confident about the future.
Super SMEs are also three times more likely to have a plan in
place for a worsened economic climate, illustrating the power and
relevance of a classic business philosophy - hoping for the best
but planning for the worst.
Alarmingly, the study found that three out of ten SMEs across
Britain expect to fail by autumn 2009, with 7% forecasting failure
within the next six months.