Enterprise Nation

A poll conducted by Ipsos MORI and Research in Motion (RIM) in May of this year revealed nearly half of all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) winning more business thanks to mobile technology. The research was reported by tech site, IT Pro, and is laid to bare here.

Winning work

The survey reveals that of the 150 UK SME owners asked, 48 per cent are winning new business thanks to the use of mobile technology - including RIM's BlackBerry. A further 69 per cent said that they were responding to clients quicker, even if they weren't in the office, making their businesses more effective.

The increased use of mobile technology has meant that SMEs can communicate with their stakeholders and access key information relating to their business whenever and wherever they are.

The article quotes marketing director of large enterprise and SME Segments EMEA at RIM, Sarah Probert as saying:

"With this research we wanted to understand how SMEs are using technology in their businesses today. What we've found is that there is a trend towards the adoption if mobile technology. They [SMEs] feel the need to be more responsive than larger enterprises."

It goes on to quote a case study of sales in action:

Managing director of Chester-based SME Ellis Whittam said:

"I was on the train to London the other day when I received a pricing enquiry. I was able to email back the answer via my BlackBerry, allowing the deal to be closed by the time I'd arrived at my destination."

The moral of this tale? Whether it’s a mobile, PDA or any other form of roaming telecoms gadget, don’t leave home without it!

• Mobiles help SMEs win more business - [IT Pro]

by Ash Dosanjh, 1 May 2008