Most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in SA view technology as the heart of their business transformation efforts.
So said Desmond Nair, SAP Africa’s head of ecosystem and channel, when presenting the findings of the brand’s “SMEs: Equipped to Compete” survey, in Sandton, yesterday. The research was commissioned by SAP and conducted in conjunction with Oxford Economics
Within SA, 44% of the SMEs surveyed have either completed, are in the process of completing, or are about to begin, a significant business transformation, the survey found.
According to the study, the majority of local SMEs believe social media will vastly transform their businesses. Commenting on this finding, Nair noted that South African SMEs believe social media allows businesses to reach a broader customer base using limited resources.
“In terms of spending, social media will see the greatest focus among South African SMEs, followed by business management software and business analytics,” said Nair. For nearly half (46%) of South African SMEs, technology investments only happen when there is a clear return on investment, he pointed out.
The study showed that, despite economic uncertainty in SA, leading-edge adopters are willing to invest in solutions that help them improve operations and become more efficient.
