Increased
investment in mobile computing is increasingly being used by
small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as a tactic to maintain
growth and reduce costs in the current economic slowdown according
to new research from T-Mobile.
The research surveyed over 500 owners of enterprises with fewer
than 250 employees across the UK, uncovering the challenges they
face in the slowing economy and the difficulties in finding
technology suppliers that understand their needs.
It found that 84% of
SMEs feel that technology becomes more important in a slower
economy and as a result 47% have considered implementing a
flexible working policy within their organisations as a means to
reduce overheads to meet the challenges of the slowing economy. An
identical number feel under more pressure from employees to allow
them to work flexibly compared with two years ago
However, despite the growing importance of mobile computing,
there is a disconnect between what firms would like and their
confidence in the ability of service providers to deliver it.
Specifically, less than half of SMEs (49%) feel that their
mobile communications contracts give them adequate flexibility
to be able to react to an uncertain economy.
Gordon Ballantyne, Director of Service and Sales at T-Mobile UK,
accepted that the findings of the research require suppliers like
his to adapt to the new market dynamics and provide mobile
computing solutions that better fits SMEs’ needs.
"Things are going to become increasingly difficult for many
smaller businesses and it's imperative that suppliers work with
them to ensure that they can continue to grow. Mobile
communications providers need to work with SMEs to tailor a tariff
which not only matches their business needs, but also takes into
account the potential impact of the credit crunch. Businesses
should be looking for a simple, understandable price plan from
mobile communications providers and ensuring they get the specific
advice that they require."
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