Small and medium-sized companies are losing out to their bigger competitors due to a lack of foresight in exploiting IT and communications, it has been claimed.
Research from BT Business and Cisco found that 85% of smaller firms were missing out on potential business because of lack of agility and competitiveness on the communications front.
The report also revealed that 72% of consumers now demand more of the businesses they deal with than two years ago. During the past year, 41% had decided against buying from a small firm because it was unresponsive to their needs, BT found.
Bill Murphy, managing director, BT Business, said:
“Unified communication solutions may be the difference between agility and fragility for SMEs in the battle to beat big business and respond to today’s demanding consumers.
“Customer service excellence and adaptability differentiate companies in competitive markets.”
Despite 58% of businesses viewing the role of IT and communications as part of the solution to improving the company’s agility, nearly half of those surveyed only have loose plans on how to actually implement this.
The research from BT comes as it launches its new Communications Complete package – a networked IP platform for small businesses which combines voice, video, data, security and wireless networking from a single supplier.
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2008
