Asia Pacific SMB growth ambitions made possible with technology refresh
Technology is a key driver for business growth and workforce productivity but small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Asia are not upgrading their computing systems and strategic IT applications such as cloud and mobility fast enough.
More than a third of SMBs (36%) still own PCs that are more than four years old and running older operating systems, which not only affect work efficiencies, but expose organisations to security vulnerabilities and IT threats. Just in the last year alone, 62% of SMBs surveyed said they had experienced a security breach. To top it off, majority of SMBs (86%) lacked an organisation-wide mobility strategy.
These findings were revealed in the latest Microsoft study in partnership with global SMB IT market research and analyst organisation TechAisle, which polled almost 2,000 SMBs across Asia Pacific.
“Technology can be a real enabler for businesses, both small and large, and SMBs should continue to recognize the value that IT investment can bring to their present and future growth. SMBs employ over half of the workforce in the Asia Pacific, significantly contributing to the region’s economic growth. Employees in this region, most of whom are young and mobile, are digital natives and appreciate modern work environments and tools that allow them to work smarter and more effectively. We want to work alongside SMBs in Asia to help them realise their ambitions and succeed in this competitive marketplace,” said Belinda Widgery, channel & device marketing lead, Microsoft Asia.
