According to a Samsung report, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business owners are wasting nearly four hours a week dealing with technology issues, while 92% of them see technology as essential for productivity.
Low productivity is driving SME owners to pursue other avenues to improve their figures. Priorities also appear to be misplaced in the report, with nine in ten of these owners placing up-to-date technology as being more important than always being available to be contacted, or email access outside of work.
Samsung links these statistics to the low productivity rankings achieved by the UK internationally, achieving only 7th place in the G7 and coming in at 17th in the G20.
Graham Long, Vice President of Enterprise at Samsung UK & Ireland, said: “SMEs are the lifeblood of the UK economy, and it’s important that they work in the most efficient and productive way possible. While technology is certainly a productivity enabler, it’s clear that SME owners and employees are struggling to unleash its full potential. Businesses need technology that is easy, secure and that their workers feel comfortable and familiar using.”
READ MORE: How can technology solve the British Productivity Puzzle?
Graham Long identifies that it the problem is with the technology itself, proposing that a solution that is user friendly with robust security would plug the current gap. The logical benefits of technology could be re-evaluated to make sure it is providing the greatest efficiency possible.
Long continues: “Our focus is on making sure technology remains an asset, not a frustration – because everything working perfectly isn’t a luxury, it’s an essential. That’s why we have a dedicated business service centre who are on hand to troubleshoot remotely; allowing businesses to keep running smoothly and importantly giving back time to owners and employees alike to focus on their day job.”
