UK SMEs not tech savvy

strategy for 2012, according to new research published by Epson Business Council, Inspiresme.co.uk reports.

However, British firms lag behind their European counterparts, with 76% of firms in France and Germany showing the same commitment to IT innovation, along with 73% in Spain and 68% in Italy.

Just a quarter (27%) of UK SMEs make use of smartphones, while a further 38% use tablets. These figures are much higher on the continent, with over half of SMEs in France and Germany deploying tablet computers.

Chris Price, MD of Epson, says: “Whether it's the cost burden, or a natural British conservatism, our attitude isn't as bullish for the impact new technology could have on further growth as our European counterparts,” Smallbusiness.co.uk quotes.

However, the very smallest UK businesses like to use the latest technology, with the average age of most of the technology in use being around 2.2 years, compared to an average of 2.5 across European countries.

Some 70% of British SMEs say they replace IT equipment every two years, recognising the importance of staying up to date.