Australian small businesses are spending less on computers and software, instead preferring to focus on online
technologies according to the Sensis 2009
e-Business Report released
today.
Average expenditure by small and medium business (SMEs)
on computer hardware and software for the 2009 is expected to be down
$3,000 from 2007 levels to $8,500.
“Spend on computer
hardware and software by small and medium business operators has fallen
considerably over the last two years, possibly due to high penetration
levels and falling costs of laptops and other equipment." said the
report's author Ms Christena Singh
Despite the drop in hardware
spending, businesses were becoming more comfortable utilising online
technologies, with over 95 percent of SME's now connected to the
internet.
According to Ms Sing, SME's are "becoming more
creative with the way in which they market their products and services
online, and more adventurous with the technology they purchase.”
One
third of SME's are using email marketing and around a quarter are
marketing on third party websites, with the growth of email and digital
marketing expected to grow in 2010.
The study, based on
interviews of 1800 SME's, also found that over two thirds have an
active website. 71 percent of those surveyed said it improved their
businesses effectiveness by:
- Informing people about the business (18 per cent);
- Increased awareness (11 per cent);
- Exposure to a broader market (10 per cent);
- Easier for people to access (10 per cent);
- More enquiries (nine per cent);
- Extra sales (eight per cent).
Download the full report
