Understanding what IT systems a business needs and how these operate is often a huge stumbling block for SME adoption of technology.
So says Wanda Matandela, managing executive of SME and partner channels for Vodacom Business.
He notes that many SMEs don't have the skills to run their own server environment and respond to failures in their systems, resulting in a possible downtime. "Unless they are trained to enable their businesses with the technologies offered, they cannot use the technology to the best of their benefit," says Matandela.
According to Andre Fourie, operations manager at Network Alliance, SMEs are not investing enough in technology, but not necessarily because they don't want to. "In my experience, SMEs are aware of the need to embrace technology, but they often lack the understanding, time and/or financial resources to make this happen," says Fourie.
"SMEs, while often subject to the same laws and legislation as larger enterprises, are often ignorant of rules, regulations and corporate governance requirements or simply don't have the budget to allocate thereto."
Matandela notes that having access to telephony, e-mail and the Internet are the basic requirements for staying in touch with a company's customer base. However, he adds, since many start-ups are cash strapped, they often consider these tools to be luxury items and don't invest in them upfront.
"We've seen the negative impact that having no or limited access to basic connectivity can have on a small business," says Matandela.
To Fourie, SMEs are generally very conscious of their cash flow, and, thus, unwilling to invest in technology if the outcome of such an investment cannot be quantified, as is often the case with IT.
"SMEs, more often than not, lack the understanding as to how technology can be leveraged to increase productivity and output, and do not have the in-house skills to design, plan, test and implement new solutions. As a result, such projects often require intervention by outsourced service providers who charge a premium for their skills and expertise," says Fourie.
He says when SMEs are confronted by what is often perceived to be exorbitant costs, they invariably decide not to proceed. As a result, projects are often delayed indefinitely, thus compounding the issue even further.
According to Matandela, enterprises with between one and 100 staff members contribute an enormous portion of the nation's GDP and they are seen as key significant job creation.
SMEs can now utilise the cloud and, thus, no longer need to invest heavily in IT, and can channel such savings into their core business function, says Fourie.
"The math is pretty simple, really. By re-investing in their businesses, employers can enhance the skills of their workers, which should lead to revenue increases and more profitable businesses. Such business owners generally have an appetite for even more profit, and will see an opportunity to expand their operations. This, in turn, should lead to job creation, which will have a positive impact on the economy."
Mobile communications have advanced far beyond voice calls on cellphones, says Matandela. "We see more and more businesses embracing the many possibilities that mobile solutions afford them," he says.
Fourie concurs that mobility, which is a consequence of cloud computing, has revolutionised the way in which SME sales representatives communicate with their head offices/suppliers, and has streamlined the order process. One cannot emphasise enough on the importance of social media, which has taken customer communication to an entirely new level.
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