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RESEARCH, ANALYSIS & TRENDS
IDC’s inaugural Asia Pacific
Future SMB intelligence services
The new IDC 2019 Future SMB Pulse survey shows that Jimenez highlights that SMBs must recognize that their
84% of SMBs in Asia Pacific (excl. Japan) recognize the competition and ecosystem are transforming, and they
need to use digital technologies to make significant must keep pace with digital technologies in order to
changes in their companies' processes and operations to survive.
become more competitive. While 39% of those have
already started their journey and are at different stages Besides all these insights, IDC’s SMB survey identified
of digital maturity, 42% are just planning to start. The the top three challenges as well that Asia Pacific SMBs
survey reveals further that the top priorities of SMBs in are facing to adapt a digital-first mindset, which are:
the next 18 months include improving revenue growth,
increasing efficiency/productivity, and reducing costs/ 1. Balancing product/service quality and growth
expenses. 2. Cashflow
3. Challenges in hiring/retaining talent and improving
According to IDC, a “future SMB” is a technology-first brand awareness
organization that can amplify its presence and
capabilities for sustainable business growth, productivity, “Amidst these challenges, we are also seeing growing
and competitiveness. It is data-driven, customer-centric, opportunities for SMBs. The rise of the new digital
highly automated, and takes an experiment-learn-iterate economies, such as the last mile economy (use of
approach to deliver breakthrough solutions and create delivery services), the gig economy (tapping
new markets. freelancers to fill in talent gaps in SMBs, and the
marketplace economy (proliferation of marketplaces
“SMBs are driven by an entrepreneurial mindset and where SMBs can offer their products and services), will
possess the appetite to compete, grow, and succeed. force SMBs willing to benefit from the opportunities
Growth and profitability are the primary goals of any presented by these new economies to make
SMB; however, when it comes to technology, these investments in digital technologies,” says Celeste
smaller businesses are generally not as progressive or Narvaez, Senior Program Manager at IDC Asia Pacific.
innovative. Due to their size, they face unique
challenges such as skills shortage, low technology IDC will provide an in-depth discussion of key SMB
adoption, and low process automation, as well as themes on scaling with digital, multiplying partnerships,
difficulties in accessing capital funding,” says Daniel-Zoe and building talent at the 2019 IDC Future of SMB
Jimenez, Associate Vice President, Digital Forum happening on 7th November 2019 at the Suntec
Transformation (DX), Future Enterprise, and SMB at IDC Singapore Convention Centre. IDC will also provide
Asia Pacific. “Widely available and easier to consume essential guidance to Asia Pacific SMBs on what
digital technologies are leveling the playing field between should be their immediate priorities to be successfully
MNCs and SMBs”, he adds and concludes: “The market to have a digital-first mindset/DNA. For more
has reached an inflection point in 2019, forcing SMBs to information about this event, please visit their
act. Driven by the evolved state of digitalization of the website Future SMB Forum. ◊
SMB ecosystem and the opportunity presented by digital
technologies to amplify capabilities and competitiveness, By MediaBUZZ.
SMBs must progress and evolve towards becoming
Future SMBs.”
10 October 2019 - Micro-moments & Customer Journey