HP opens up SMB Forum to help SA business with tech solutions

HP South Africa recently announced the HP SMB Forum which, together with Intel and Microsoft, aims to further the interests of local small business by strengthening their relationships with tech and other professional services.

According to Microsoft’s recently concluded economic impact report entitled Ahead of the curve: Lessons on technology and growth from small business leaders, SMEs are more willing to embrace new solutions and are better positioned to encourage job growth.

Tracey Newman, SME Lead for Microsoft SA says, “We feel that the small to medium business market is critical to the economic success of South Africa as a whole. As such, we look forward to engaging the country’s most dynamic entrepreneurs via the HP SMB Forum.”

According to the press release, only one in three South African SMBs manage their IT resources using an external supplier and a further one in three have an internal IT department.

Furthermore, the top three objectives when making IT investment decisions are usually improving internal inefficiencies, optimising key business processes and reducing costs.

“Based on these results it is clear that local SMBs, although often willing to investigate new offerings, require input and assistance from solutions providers to better understand how technology can facilitate growth,” suggests Newman.

“Entrepreneurship is the engine that keeps the economic wheel turning. Despite this, SMB owners seldom receive the attention and support that they duly deserve. We hope, through the formation of the HP SMB Forum, to extend an offering of partnership to this vibrant community and look forward to working closely with them in the future”, adds Adele Oosthuizen: Enterprise, SMB and commercial channel sales manager.