Poor broadband services cost SMEs

Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) are losing out due to poor broadband services, according to a survey from ISME, reports Inside Ireland.

While the survey of ICT usage in 800-plus SMEs confirmed an increased use of technology, including Internet and e-mail, the survey claims only one in four companies (28%) use the Internet for online selling, with three-quarters missing out on major online selling opportunities.

Suggested reasons for this include the lack of availability and cost of broadband and lack of company expertise.

Around 48% of UK SMEs are using smartphones for e-mail or to log on to the Internet for business and payments, a quarterly survey by the Open University Business School, Barclays and accountancy body ACCA discovered, reports Finextra.

The survey also found out that a further 9% is planning to adopt the technology this year.

The surge in uptake of Web-connected smartphones by the SME sector is pushing paper-based processing and cash usage to the margins in more agile SMEs, says Steve Cooper, managing director of Barclays Business.

New discount Web site Cudo will aggressively try to win market share and beat out a flood of SMEs trying to build footholds in the coupon and group-buying space, states Smart Company.

This is according to Cudo chief executive Billy Tucker. The Web site, which is a joint venture between Microsoft and PBL, comes after the recent unveiling of several coupon and group-buying sites, including OurDeal, Jump on It and Scoopon, which try capitalise on the success of market leader Groupon in the US.

Tucker says the model has been proven to work, and work very quickly, and Cudo will be striving to beat competitors in a rapidly expanding and popular market.