This research provides insight on technology adoption and needs among SMB owners, with a specific focus on connectivity, IoT devices, and services. It examines the changes taking place because of reduced budgets and broad-scale shifts to work from home.
SAMPLE VIEW
Small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) have a new and heightened need for access control, energy management, and tools to monitor their staff, inventory, and buildings.
New security applications and services stemming from cloud-based and video verification solutions give SMBs insight into the metrics and real-time analytics of their operations.
The market pressures SMBs have faced this year place new priorities on energy management and savings and technologies that can streamline operations and combine risk-management with potential insurance savings. The changing work environment means that managing and securing their networks, and their ever-growing portfolio of end-user devices, are top priorities. SMBs are increasingly turning to ISPs for Wi-Fi management, network security, and other value-added services (VAS).
Key questions:
- How is the current business environment impacting SMB spending on communication, security, entertainment, IT, and energy services?
- What new business services are SMBs most interested in acquiring?
- What is adoption of IoT solutions, and what is driving adoption?
- Who are SMBs' preferred providers of business services and IoT solutions?
- How do remote work and return-to-office trends impact SMB demand for business services, including IT and cyber security solutions?
Table of Contents
Survey Methodology
Executive Summary
- SMB Business Concerns
- SMB Spending on IoT Equipment Over the Last 12 Months
- Top Drivers of SMB Interest in IoT Devices
- Expected Spending Increase on IoT Equipment by Number of Business Locations
- Inhibitors to Using Connected Security Devices
- SMB Spending on Business Services
- % of SMBs Without Service Likely to Subscribe in Next 12 Months
- Providers Considered for Connected Solutions
Respondent/SMB Profile
- Current Role at the Company
- Role in Company IT Decisions
- Company Size (# of Employees)
- Annual Revenues in 2022
- Type of Customers Served
- Annual Revenues by Type of Customers Served
- Type of Location Where Employees Work
- Number of Locations Where Business Operates
Remote Work: Challenges and Outlook
- Frequency of Employees Working from Home
- Challenges of Employees Working from Home
- Challenges of Employees Working from Home by Frequency of Employees Working from Home
- Anticipated Future Needs: Remote Work & Business Properties
- Anticipated Future Need for Remote Work by Frequency of Employees Working from Home
- Anticipated Future Need for Work at Customer's Locations by Working at Customer's Location
Business Services: Communication, Entertainment, Support
- Number of IT Professionals
- Number of IT Personnel by Company Size
- Business Service Subscriptions
- Internet Service Providers
- Internet Service Payment
- Service Providers
- Average Monthly Spending on Service Subscriptions Among All SMBs
- Average Monthly Spending on Service Subscriptions Among SMBs with Specified Service
- Average Monthly Spending on Service Subscriptions by Company Size
- Satisfaction with Business Service
- Average Spending on Entertainment Services by Number of Locations
- Average Spending on Mobile Phone Service by Type of Customers Served
- Change in Spending on Business Service Over the Last 12 Months
- Anticipated Change in Spending on Business Services
- Anticipated Change in Spending on Business Services by Company Size
- Likelihood of Subscribing to Additional Business Services
Deep Dive: Communication Services
- Appeal of Communication Service Features
- Appeal of Communication Service Features by Number of IT Personnel
- Anticipated Cost per Person for Advanced Video Conferencing Services
- Anticipated Cost per Person for Advanced Video Conferencing Services by Number of Business Locations
- Preferred Provider for Video Conferencing Services
- Preferred Provider for Video Conferencing Services by Number of Business Locations
- Reasons for Preferring Video Conferencing Device Provider
IoT Device Adoption and Use
- Type of Network Used in Business Location
- IoT Equipment Adoption
- Connected Security & Energy Management Device Integration
- Connected Safety & Connected AV Device Integration
- Top 10 Equipment Products/Systems Provided by Property Owners/Management Company
- Equipment Products/Systems Provided by Property Owners/Management Company, Cont'd
- The Degree to which Equipment Meets Needs
- Energy Management & Connected Safety Devices User Experience by Number of Business Locations
- Spending on IoT Equipment Over the Last 12 Months
- Expected Expenditure on IoT Equipment
- Expected Spending Increase on IoT Equipment by Number of Business Locations
- Business Concerns by Expected Spending Increase on IoT Equipment
- Anticipated Use of Connected Security & Energy Management Devices
- Anticipated Use of Connected Safety & Connected AV Devices
- Anticipated Use of Security & Energy Management Devices by Number of IT Personnel
- Anticipated Use of Security & Energy Management Devices by Number of Business Locations
- Anticipated Use of Safety & Connected AV Devices by Number of Business Locations
Deep Dive: Connected Security
- Adoption of Security System & Professional Monitoring Service
- Age of Security System
- Security System Adoption by Number of Business Locations
- Number of False Alarms Experienced Last Year
- IoT Security Device Adoption
- Security/Monitoring Camera Adoption by Use of Office Building
- Reasons for Using Connected Security Solutions
- Reasons for Using Connected Security Devices by Number of Business Locations
- Inhibitors to Using Connected Security Devices
- Inhibitors to Using of Connected Security Devices by Number of Business Locations
- Appeal of Connected Security Features
- Appeal of Connected Security Features by Number of IT Personnel
- Top Purchase Consideration for Connected Security Devices
- Providers Considered for Connected Security Devices
- Provider Considered for Connected Security Devices by Number of Business Locations
- Reasons for Preferring Connected Security Device Provider
- Reasons for Preferring Connected Security Device Provider by Number of Employees
Deep Dive: Energy Management
- Smart Energy Device Adoption
- Smart Energy Device Adoption, by Security System Use
- Reasons for Using Energy Management Devices
- Inhibitors to Using Energy Management Devices
- Appeal of Energy Management Features
- Top Purchase Consideration for Energy Management Devices
- Preferred Provider for Energy Management Devices
- Reason for Preferring Provider of Smart Energy Equipment
Deep Dive: Connected Safety
- Smart Safety Device Adoption
- Smart Safety Device Adoption, by Security System Use
- Reasons for Using Connected Safety Devices
- Reasons for Using Connected Safety Device by Company Size
- Inhibitors to Using Connected Safety Devices
- Appeal of Connected Safety Features
- Top Purchase Consideration for Connected Safety Devices
- Preferred Providers for Connected Safety Devices
- Reasons for Preferring Connected Safety Device Provider
- Reason for Preferring ISP and Retailer for Smart Safety Equipment
- Reason for Preferring Provider of Smart Energy Equipment
Deep Dive: Support & Cybersecurity
- Connectivity & IoT Technical Problems Experienced in the Last 12 Months
- Connectivity & IoT Technical Problems by Number of Business Locations
- Party Solving Technical Problems
- Party Solving Technical Problems by Number of IT Personnel
- Method of Receiving Outside Technical Support
- Cybersecurity Concerns About Connected Systems and Vendors
- High Cybersecurity Concerns, by Number of Business Locations
- Type of Cyber Attacks Experienced Last Year
- Steps Taken to Reduce Threat of Cyber Attacks
- Steps Taken to Reduce Threat of Cyber Attacks by Employees Working at Home
- Steps Taken to Reduce Threat of Cyber Attacks by Working at Customers' Locations
- Cybersecurity Services Used
- Cybersecurity Services Used by Employees Working at Home
- Appeal of Technical Support Services
- Appeal of Technical Support Services by Number of IT Personnel
- Expected Cost of Cybersecurity and Support Service per Employee
- Expected Cost of Cybersecurity and Support Service per Employee by Number of Business Locations
- Insurance Carried by Company
- Insurance Carried by Company by Company Revenue
Real Estate and Business Profile
- Number of Business Locations by Type of Customers Served
- Ownership of Building by Type of Location Where Employees Work
- Business Location Size (Sq. Ft.)
- Average Number of Entrance/Exits
- Type of Entrance/Exits
- Average Daily Number of Non-Employees Visiting Business Location
- Type of Assets Stored by Type of Location Where Employees Work
- Payment Model For Utilities
- SMB Industry
- Region of Primary Company Location
Appendix