SMEs adopt tech quicker than bigger companies

Close to two-thirds (60%) of knowledge workers in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the US, UK and Germany now use on-demand tools – technology that is internet or cloud-based – in their professional roles.

This figure is higher than in companies with 500 or more employees (53%), displaying the agile, forward-looking nature of SMEs. These findings are revealed in the Way We Work Study commissioned by communication software company Unify. Surveying 5000 British, American and German SME knowledge workers, those whose job is to ‘think for a living’, it reveals people’s attitudes and expectations about their current workplace, as well as what they believe future holds.

The study reveals that knowledge workers at SMEs expect to see large changes in their jobs over the next five years. More than a third (38%) believe their roles will not exist after this timeframe, with almost two-thirds (64%) thinking they will not be the same. Some 76% of SME knowledge workers feel they are listened to in their organisation, compared to 71% in larger companies, suggesting they will be well positioned to adapt in the future.

Also evident in the study is the impact that technology has had on SMEs. Email is still seen as an essential tool, with almost three-quarters (70%) of small and medium businesses viewing it as such. Companies of this size rely on it less than larger organisations though; with 80% of the latter stating it is essential. There is also strong evidence of further consumerisation of enterprise technology. Close to two-thirds (61%) of SMEs use their own devices at work, compared to just under half (47%) at large organisations. This suggests people want to work with the devices they are comfortable with outside of the office, so SMEs need to choose tools and applications that work alongside this.

In addition, virtual work has become normal practice. Close to half of SME knowledge workers (47%) believe a single office as a physical workplace is less important than in the past. Although this trend is gaining momentum, smaller businesses are still not on par larger ones in regards to virtual working.

“There is no technological gulf between SMEs and large organisations, and in many cases, SMEs are more progressive, as they are forced to do more with less, be innovative, and nimble,” said Thomas Veit, General Manager, Channels, EMPAC, Unify. “Our study not only shows the huge impact technology has had on the industry, but the fact SMEs are adopting and integrating it into every aspect of their work.”