Providing a positive customer experience using transformative cloud
technologies is the number one key to driving economic growth for small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) according to new research conducted
by independent market research firm IDG
Research Services. The study sponsored by Progress,
a global software company, polled 300 key decision-makers across the US
and Europe about their biggest business challenges and key goals.
SMEs are businesses with less than 249 employees (Europe) and between 50
and 999 employees (US). The survey found that most are improving the
customer experience through value added services and business
applications and that cloud services are helping these organizations to
deliver on customer demands.
Customer-centric approach driving growth
Often applauded for a more personalized, customer-centric approach than
larger enterprises, the study found that SMEs are continuing to focus on
this area, with 74% looking to achieve growth through an improved
customer experience and the delivery of value added services. Further,
60% said they plan to adjust business models over the next 18 months to
better meet customer demands and stay ahead of the competition. Nearly
half (48%) reported that ensuring security for their key applications
was their highest priority.
In a competitive business environment, businesses also are increasingly
looking for new applications that can help improve efficiency and boost
productivity. More than half are focusing on application initiatives
that deliver agile, responsive business environments, with 54% planning
to deploy new business applications to increase productivity within the
next 18 months.
In line with the maturity of the market, SMEs in the US were found to be
slightly ahead of their European counterparts with a greater focus on
implementing Big Data initiatives (48% US v 33% Europe). Showing the
need for more agility, 47% will be focusing on increasing collaboration
between IT and business organizations to build better business
applications faster over the next 18 months.
Cloud services and business applications delivering on customer
demands
To meet fast-changing customer demands and deliver tailored
applications, nearly two thirds (61%) of US businesses surveyed have
implemented or plan to implement cloud infrastructure/services in the
near term. As with Big Data initiatives, European organizations are
lagging behind the US in terms of cloud adoption, however 39% of
European SMEs plan to implement cloud infrastructure/services within the
next year.
Executive Quote:
“Global economic data shows a correlation between a steady SME market
and a stable or recovering economy – we believe this is because SMEs
combine many of the best traits from their large enterprise and start-up
counterparts, offering a mix of reliability, innovation and flexibility
which is best suited for quick growth,” said Karen Tegan Padir, chief
technology officer at Progress.
The IDG Research Services study, conducted between August and September
2013 surveyed 300 decision makers involved in setting business and IT
strategy at SMEs in the US, UK, Germany, France and Benelux.
Additional Resources:
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About Progress Software Corporation
Progress
Software Corporation (NASDAQ:PRGS) is a global software company that
simplifies the development, deployment and management of business
applications on-premise or in the cloud, on any platform or device, to
any data source, with enhanced performance, minimal IT complexity and
low total cost of ownership. Progress Software can be reached at www.progress.com
or 1-781-280-4000.
Progress and Pacific are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress
Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the
U.S. and other countries. Any other names contained herein may be
trademarks of their respective owners.
Copyright Business Wire 2013