Smaller firms willing to embrace the channel

contract to supply: smaller firms are seeing the benefits of using channel players

Integrator Damovo has claimed smaller firms are now more open minded to using single suppliers for their IT needs than before.

According to Damovo’s figures, 76 per cent of companies (both smaller and medium-sized) questioned viewed operational efficiency as a key motivator for upgrading IT systems, with 62 per cent also citing cost reduction as a main driver.

The integrator’s research also revealed that 70 per cent of SMEs rated cost of implementation as an important concern when planning IT upgrades.

Tom Gutteridge, head of business development at Damovo UK, said: “Our experience in working with small-to-medium sized businesses shows that the medium-sized companies are typically more likely to benefit from the economies of scale that enable new IT technologies to be introduced, while small companies are often left without the capacity to enhance their infrastructure.”

However it is not just the smaller players where cost plays a deciding factor, Damovo claimed. Its research revealed that 66 per cent of medium sized enterprises rated convenience of implementation as key.

Almost half, (47 per cent) of medium-sized companies also agreed that a single supplier could provide a more convenient and cost effective alternative to infrastructure management.

Gutteridge added: “As IT infrastructures become more complex, not only for medium sized companies but also for their smaller counterparts, the survey responses suggest this single supplier model will become more commonplace.”