Specialists rate virtualisation, consolidation and business intelligence in downturn

Moreover, 55% of SMEs will maintain or increase their IT spending year-on-year, through carefully placed investments. Those are chief among findings from a study by Microsoft that examines the business challenges and technology priorities of SMEs for the year ahead. The first Microsoft SMB Insight Report, which the software giant says will be updated annually, involved the US, UK, Canada, France and Brazil, and more than 600 Microsoft small business specialists. Eduardo Rosini, corporate vice president for Microsoft's worldwide SME solutions, explains that the survey finds that major concerns driving technology investments are declining revenues, competition from larger businesses and the economic difficulties. He deduces that many SMEs are focusing specifically on IT investments that directly benefit their bottom line – by reducing operating costs, improving employee productivity, or acquiring and retaining customers. Diving into the detail, Microsoft finds 50% identifying virtualisation or IT consolidation as the technology most likely to reduce operating costs – the favourite approach being a small or midsize server. It also reveals that more than 50% of Microsoft's small business specialists reckoned CRM (customer relationship management), virtualisation or IT consolidation, through a small or midsize server, would turn out to be the best investment for maximising business growth in a down economy. Beyond that, nearly 40% expect an increased interest in business intelligence – not least because of its ability to improve customers' experiences and increase loyalty. More than half also anticipate an increase in SMEs wanting to support remote workers, and nearly 60% expect that to lead to bigger roles and more responsibilities. On a different note, the specialists also expect a 20% increase this year in the number of SMEs signing on to use software as a service.