New research from BT, conducted jointly with the British Chambers of Commerce shows large numbers of small to medium-sized enterprises have invested in technologies that boost mobile working.
It is therefore more important than ever that Norfolk businesses are able to compete on a level playing field with the introduction of better broadband speeds and mobile signals across the county.
The study, based on interviews with more than 300 directors of smaller businesses, suggests the UK’s SME sector is embracing mobility more enthusiastically than ever before – and enjoying benefits such as improved productivity as a result.
More than nine in 10 of the businesses in the study say they now have at least one member of staff who works from home, either full-time or on a part-time basis, while almost a fifth of businesses said that more than half of their workforce is now working away from their main office location.
To facilitate this shift, many companies have implemented new technologies. Most significantly, the use of cloud computing by small businesses is up by 15 per cent compared to a year ago, BT said. Its research suggests 69 per cent of small companies are now using cloud computing platforms of one kind or another – more than half of these businesses say the cloud has proved critical to their ability to offer flexible and remote working.
However, many businesses are also turning to other technologies as well as cloud computing. Remote access to company data, wi-fi access when out of the office and fibre-optic broadband are all increasingly critical for businesses that promote remote working, the study shows. Wi-fi access, cited by 64 per cent of businesses, and remote access to data, cited by 56 per cent are particularly important, but 33 per cent also said fibre-optic broadband was a must.
More than two-thirds of the companies in the study said smartphone technology had generated more impact than any other innovation on their business over the past 12 months.
Many of the directors interviewed said their businesses were enjoying significant benefits from internet connectivity and mobile working. More than three-quarters pointed to the increase in the speed of communication their companies were now enjoying, while two-thirds said it connectivity had helped to improve customer service.
Dr Adam Marshall, executive director of policy and external affairs at the BCC, said investment in technology would also help the UK’s small businesses to compete on the international stage.
“Cloud and mobile technologies are becoming increasingly important as firms expand into new markets and explore new ways of working – especially overseas,” Dr Marshall said. “It is encouraging to see that so many British firms are adapting their working practices to take advantage of these developments.”
Danny Longbottom, the managing director of UK SME at BT Business, said the increased use of mobile technologies were at the heart of the “dramatic changes we are seeing within the UK SME market”.
