UK SMEs drive green IT and emerging technologies

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.