Small firms invest in hi-tech solutions

10:45am today Friday 31st March 2006

RESEARCH from Cisco Systems shows that the attitude of small businesses towards new technology is changing, with more willing to invest in IT equipment than there were in the past.

"The must-haves of 20th Century firms such as salubrious offices and expensive company cars have been superseded by a desire for personal digital assistants, laptops and mobile phones" said Mike Goldsworthy, the technical director, of Swindon IT specialist GHS UK.

Researchers quizzed businesses on how they would spend a windfall of £20,000.

More than two thirds of respondents opted for investing in servers, while 34 per cent would purchase more computers for their staff.

Another quarter chose to use the money to improve internal communications with 20 per cent putting personal digital assistants top of their wish list.

In contrast, only two per cent said they would spend the £20,000 on company cars.

"Small businesses which embrace new technology are becoming increasingly more productive, while improving customer service and making mobile workforces more efficient, somethinging which we usually only see from larger enterprises," Mike said.