smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Small business owners in the UK consider the prospect of investing in new information and communications technology so daunting, that a fifth would rather watch paint dry than invest in a new IT system, research from AT Communications reveals.

In fact, many owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) consider the prospect of investing in technology intimidating, saying that the industry is bamboozling them with complex information. Around 60 per cent of owner-managers consider the investment and nurturing of relationships with customers a higher priority than investing in technology.

And despite the fact that a fifth of the 500,000 people who start their own business every year are destined to cease trading within the first twelve months, more than a quarter of those surveyed said they considered launching a new commercial venture less daunting than investing in or updating the technology they use.

Campbell Williams, marketing director at AT Communications, said: ‘With so many new products that lend themselves to drastically improving a business, IT firms must ensure that information is clear, accessible and readily available. By failing to do this, the industry is, in many ways, cutting off its nose to spite its face.’ Conversely, if small business owners could be more willing to embrace new technologies, they may find that a great deal of money could be saved.

Following the survey, AT is launching a campaign to champion the use of ‘plain English’ in the technology sector.

Read our article on ‘Business software on a shoestring' by clicking here, or visit the BusinessLink website for information on getting the most from your IT by clicking here.

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