DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Jun 17, 2015) - New research from Parks Associates finds strong familiarity with standard IT services is low among small businesses (SMBs), including only 28% of U.S. SMBs that are very familiar with cloud-based storage and backup services. Less than 25% are very familiar with remote IT support or network security services, compared to 35% that are very familiar with online payment processing.
"Small businesses need IT products, but they just don't have time to research the available products and services," said Patrice Samuels, Research Analyst at Parks Associates. "Once U.S. SMBs become strongly familiar with IT support services, 33% are willing to pay to receive these services for their business, compared to 3% who are unfamiliar. Market education and outreach to promote IT products and services are needed to encourage adoption in the small business markets."
Parks Associates' Selling Cloud Services and IT Support to SMBs, which includes a nationwide survey of SMB decision makers, shows awareness can drive adoption -- 16% of SMBs began shopping for a new IT service or service provider after learning about a new product or service feature, making awareness a stronger driver of service adoption than outages with their current service. Personal recommendations are the most common source of IT information, but one-third of SMBs use online news sites, magazines, or portals for IT information.
"Educational programs may need to incentivize participation in order to get SMBs to join in, especially micro-SMBs, which are generally SMBs with fewer than 50 employees," Samuels said. "Self-support or other low-labor/low-cost freemium offerings will allow micro-SMBs to gain familiarity with and a better understanding of the value of IT services."
Parks Associates' Selling Cloud Services and IT Support to SMBs explores interest in and demand for new IT support and cloud solutions among U.S. SMBs. It surveys SMB decision makers to identify the companies most interested in various IT solutions and product features, including sources of information and influence and purchase triggers, to help identify the primary target markets for SMB support products and services. Key topics include:
- The technology and IT services used by SMBs
- Service provider strategies
- Interest in new IT and support services
- Factors driving adoption of IT services
- Market challenges and opportunities
The research is available for purchase. More information is available at www.parksassociates.com. To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific research data, please contact Holly Sprague at hsprague@gmail.com.
About Parks Associates
Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions.
The company's expertise includes digital media and platforms, entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television services, digital health, mobile applications and services, support services, consumer apps, advanced advertising, consumer electronics, energy management, and home control systems and security.
Each year, Parks Associates hosts industry webcasts, the CONNECTIONS™ Conference Series, Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers, and Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer. http://www.parksassociates.com
Contact Information:
Holly Sprague
Parks Associates
720.987.6614
hsprague@gmail.com
