CLOUD WITH A SILVER LINING

Sponsors:
Rectron, Forest Technologies, Standard Bank

Focus:
SMEs, the Cloud and Financial Services

Research:
1,400 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 2-200 Staff

Download 2015 Executive Summary

SMEs don’t think banks are their friends

• SMEs have difficulty articulating what they require from the financial services sector.
• Banks are a least likely source of funding, yet many use overdrafts without seeing it as funding. Main reason: they are seen as punitive.
• Obtaining funding itself requires extensive resources.
• Banks need to become more SME-friendly and more funding-friendly.

Challenges are magnified for SMEs

• SMEs do not have the resources to mitigate the impact of load shedding.
• When it does strike, impact is far greater.
• Impact is also cumulative, and SMEs are now buckling under the strain.
• Threat also comes from their own lack of urgency to adopt risk mitigating solutions like continual back-up.

Offer SMEs specifics, not concepts

• Disconnect between what SMEs consider to be cloud and actual cloud services many use shows lack of education about what the Cloud really is and what services actually form part of it.
• Providers must be more active in educating.
• Key is to market the applications within the Cloud, not the Cloud itself.

The cloud with a silver lining

• Even if they don’t know it, most SMEs use cloud.
• Online banking, mail, accounting and CRM all prove SMEs are ready to trust cloud with sensitive data.
• Now SMEs must join the dots, linking the threat of power failures with the protection of the cloud.
• They are rapidly getting there, and it is now becoming more about strategy than technology

1 Seminar attended by 100 delegates: JHB

CLOUD & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMMES

Sponsors:
Seda, Business Connexion and Microsoft SA

Focus:
Impact of Cloud Computing, mobility, Bring Your Own Device, social media and Government support programmes

Research:
1,400 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 1-200 Staff

Download 2014 Executive Summary

• Location, location, location – it still matters
• A minority, but women SME owners more successful
• Cloud grows, government does better
• Cloud uptake amongst SMEs is 'slow and steady'
• SMEs express growing confidence in government support programmes
• SMEs brace for change

2 Seminars attended by 150 delegates: JHB & CT

Impact of Websites

Sponsors:
Google South Africa

Focus:
SME Internet adoption and business impact

Research:
2,000 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 1-200 Staff
(IT)

Download 2012 Internet Matters Report

• SME Survey 2012: SME slow to harness Cloud
• Website keeps 1 out of 5 SMEs alive
• Google and Partners launch Woza Online to bring thousands of South African SMEs online
• SME Survey 2012: Competitive businesses are online
• SME Survey 2012: Small businesses recognise the value of a website
• SME Survey 2011: Web-presence now crucial for the small business

1 Seminar attended by 150 delegates: JHB

The Great Divide

Sponsors:
National Youth Development Agency

Focus:
SMEs and the divide that exists between established and emerging markets

Research:
2,500 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 1-200 Staff
(IT and non-IT)

Download 2010 executive summary

• SME Survey 2010: Diversify to boost resilience and profitability
• SME Survey 2010: The South African SME and the environment - does it care?
• SME Survey 2010: Connectivity is a big issue in the emerging SME market
• SME Survey 2010: Crime and competition the biggest headaches for SMEs
• SME Survey 2010: World Cup a great success for SA, but not for the SME
• SME Survey 2010: Was the World Cup all that?

3 Seminars attended by 145 delegates: JHB, KZN, Bloemfontein

Unlock the power of the entrepreneur

Sponsors:
Standard Bank and Fujitsu Siemens Computers

Focus:
Resources used by successful SMEs

Research:
5,000 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 1- 200 Staff
(IT and non-IT)

Download 2007 executive summary

2007 Archive Press Releases

• The secrets of successful business
• What makes the South African SME competitive?
• Technology makes the South African SME competitive
• What keeps you up at night?
• More women needed in business
• The blueprint for a successful SME
• "Incubator Snap Survey" Findings

1 Seminar attended by 86 delegates: JHB

Unlock the power of the entrepreneur

Sponsors:
Standard Bank, MWEB Business and Microsoft

Focus:
The factors affecting entrepreneurship and SME competitiveness in SA, including business enablers such as IT, Financial Services and BEE

Research:
6,000 interviews-nationwide
SMEs with 1-200 Staff
(No IT filter)

3 Seminars attended by 160 delegates: JHB, CT, DBN

Unlock the power of the entrepreneur

Sponsors:
Standard Bank and HP

Focus:
The role of government in support of SME growth in SA and the impact of IT and Financial Services on SME productivity

Research:
2,500 interviews-nationwide
SMEs with 1-200 Staff
(No IT filter)

3 Seminars attended by 155 delegates: JHB, CT, DBN

SMEs and the recession challenges

Sponsors:
Standard Bank, National Youth Development Agency and Fujitsu

Focus:
SMEs and the recession challenges

Research:
2,500 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 1-200 Staff
(IT and non-IT)

Download 2009 executive summary

• World Cup gap for SMEs
• Beat the recession with business basics
• The end of dialup and the continued rise of ADSL
• Small business coping with recession
• The recession and the South African SME
• SME Survey: Potential financial woes worry SME owners

Unlock the power of the entrepreneur

Sponsors:
Standard Bank and Fujitsu Siemens Computers

Focus:
Infrastructure challenges facing SMEs

Research:
5,000 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 1- 200 Staff
(IT and non-IT)

Download 2008 executive summary

2008 Archive Press Releases

• Cash Crunch hits SMEs
• Adapting to infrastructure challenges
• Crime a daily reality for South African SMEs
• South African SMEs show resilience in the face of adversity
• Micro-enterprises bear brunt of financial turbulence
• ADSL comes of age

3 Seminars attended by 214 delegates: JHB, CT, DBN

Unlock the power of the entrepreneur

Sponsors:
Standard Bank and Oracle Corporation South Africa

Focus:
The factors affecting entrepreneurship and SME competitiveness in SA, including business enablers such as IT, Financial Services and BEE

Research:
6,000 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 1- 200 Staff
(IT and non-IT)

Download 2006 executive summary

2006 Archive Press Releases

• What’s behind SME competitiveness: Banking and mobile communications
• How does BEE impact competitiveness?
• It’s empowered!
• Purchase decisions: Quality of product or service the SME Holy Grail
• Finance and skills the enabler, ICT and BEE take a back seat
• Skills and finance the answer for SME growth
• Many SMEs don’t consider ICT critical
• SMEs want Finance – but must consider the risks

Where business meets technology

Sponsors:
ABSA, HP and PWC

Focus:
The impact of IT & Financial Services on SME competitiveness in SA

Research:
5,000 interviews–nationwide
SMEs with 1-200 Staff
(With PCs)

4 Seminars attended by 280 delegates: JHB(2), CT, DBN