Investments in new IT systems are worthwhile

The IT systems in medium-sized businesses are changing: Three out of four medium-sized companies in many countries are going to introduce a new IT system or have reorganized their IT landscape recently. These investments payoff: companies that invest heavily in their IT, achieve a higher return on sales than SMEs that take less money for IT in the hand.

These are the findings of a recent study by the management consultancy Kienbaum of IT systems in the SME sector. For the study Kienbaum surveyed 85 medium-sized companies in all industries.

"Our study shows that medium-sized companies to improve their competitive position by implementing new IT systems. By implication, this means that many companies currently have the opportunity unused to increase its return on sales by investing in their IT, "says Heinz Linss, an expert in IT system implementation in Kienbaum and author of the study.

Important divisions neglect the issue of IT

Many medium-sized companies have not yet realized the importance of the IT system for the company's success: For example, one in ten SMEs does not know what this will cost him IT at all. In critical areas, many companies neglect also the quality of their IT systems: The SMEs surveyed are the least satisfied with the IT systems in design, engineering, marketing, sales and purchasing.


"It is particularly problematic that the companies do not strive for improvement, especially in the areas whose IT is qualitatively below average, for example through the introduction or adaptation of the IT system. This can lead to a fatal stagnation in the IT infrastructure, performance of relevant departments, "says Heinz Linss of Kienbaum.

SME satisfied with the quality of its IT systems

With the quality of IT systems in other business areas the SMEs surveyed, however, are very pleased: In particular, human resources, finance and controlling the medium-sized information technology are very well positioned and therefore see no need for renewal. "The study shows that total, the companies surveyed are satisfied with their IT systems and see this as an essential prerequisite for successful customer relationships," says Heinz Linss.

The main reason to introduce a new IT system is: The medium-sized companies expect the new system also offers new, relevant information. After all the faculties and the management need meaningful information about their own business and the state of the company for decision making in process and strategy issues. Another important goal is to promote the internal standardization of processes and thus ensure quality. In third place in the ranking of the most important objectives cranking the company's growth is due to new IT systems.

Customer-oriented business units are driving process optimization

The role of the IT department will in future considerably change in medium-sized enterprises: At present, the respondents in a ranking of the most important driving force in the process changes the IT department still in third place behind the management and the marketing and sales.

In the future, the customer-oriented areas will gain in innovation, slide off the IT department on the other hand to ninth. "Where a company initiates innovations, it decides, in particular with regard to the needs and behavior of customers or buyers of target groups. It is therefore right and important that areas such as service and customer service and marketing engine for process innovation in the SME sector are the future, "says Heinz Linss.