PCWorld: Smart IT Investment Advice For SMBs
PCWorld’s Matt Troka takes SMBs through some simple, basic steps for ensuring that investments in IT actually pay dividends in improved productivity or money saving.
“According to a recent report from Forrester Research, IT spending in the United States is expected to ramp up in the second half of the year with an estimated 19% increase in computer equipment spending, 11% growth in software spending, 7% hike in communications equipment spending, and 6% uptick in consulting services. As the overall IT industry starts to show signs of growth, small businesses — often the last to display confidence — are exhibiting cautious optimism as many anticipate increased IT investments in the next six months.
According to the most recent CDW IT Monitor, which has been tracking IT sentiment since the beginning of the recession, more than half (54%) of IT decision makers at the small business level believe that investment in IT infrastructure helps their company’s performance — an increase of 10 percentage points since the same time last year. In addition, 46% of IT decision makers at small businesses plan to replace or install software, up 3% since the same time last year, while 34% expect to invest in hardware in the next six months, an increase of 4% since June 2009.”