According to a recent study by Intuit QuickBooks, 71% of UK small business owners depend on web or mobile applications to support business growth by simplifying their operations and reduce time spent on administrative tasks.
This percentage – which is higher in the UK than in both the US (59%) and Canada (68%) – suggests that small companies in the UK are ahead of the curve when it comes to using the technology available to streamline their everyday business affairs.
In response to the study, European Vice President and Managing Director of Intuit Quickbooks, Dominic Allon, commented: ‘British entrepreneurs are ahead of a trend that is happening on a global scale’.
But whilst mobile and web applications are becoming more and more a part of the tech-savvy entrepreneur’s strategy, the business app market is not without its flaws – the main one being that there are often hundreds of versions of each type of product, which can cause a bit of a headache for anyone trying to determine the best app for their organisation.
Privacy and security are other worries – as well as the cost to integrate applications into existing systems and, of course, the cost of employee training.
Despite these challenges, the proliferation of mobile and web applications on the UK’s small business scene has allowed entrepreneurs to seek new paths to greater productivity and growth. As Allon adds: ‘Small firms are well known for their creativity in how they grow their business; using digital tools to tackle their challenges head-on is key to their success.’
Seamless technology that makes life easier is the heart of The Workstation’s Virtual Office Services, aimed at small businesses looking for a flexible way to grow their business. Find out more here.