SMEs in South Africa: highly mobile
Here we present the results of a survey carried out with SMEs in South Africa, outlining their budget priorities and their attitudes towards telecoms sourcing and usage.
South African SMEs are highly mobile
South Africa has the highest proportion of mobile users among SMEs of all the countries we surveyed. Mobile email and SMS services are well established mobile applications and this survey suggested potential for other mobile applications to grow quickly.
Opportunities in managed services
Managed services are the way forward for telecoms service providers in South Africa. They can provide the latest technologies at a monthly recurring cost. By combining advanced services into a managed service, enterprises can receive advanced services without additional dependence on telecoms managers. They also have the piece of mind that they are not spending too much, since they have a monthly recurring charge.
Telcos can provide more to SMEs
Telecoms service providers can do more to extend their reach into SMEs in South Africa. Currently most SMEs surveyed buy telecoms services from their telecoms service providers, but service providers can do more to encourage the adoption of non-traditional services.
SMEs expect better service
South African SMEs expect better service and service-level agreements. They are not satisfied with current agreements and believe they can be improved in areas such as service reliability and response time to clear faults. This provides service providers with a good opportunity to differentiate their services based on the quality of service they provide.
South African SMEs are highly mobile
South Africa has the highest proportion of mobile users among SMEs of all the countries we surveyed. Mobile email and SMS services are well established mobile applications and this survey suggested potential for other mobile applications to grow quickly.
Opportunities in managed services
Managed services are the way forward for telecoms service providers in South Africa. They can provide the latest technologies at a monthly recurring cost. By combining advanced services into a managed service, enterprises can receive advanced services without additional dependence on telecoms managers. They also have the piece of mind that they are not spending too much, since they have a monthly recurring charge.
Telcos can provide more to SMEs
Telecoms service providers can do more to extend their reach into SMEs in South Africa. Currently most SMEs surveyed buy telecoms services from their telecoms service providers, but service providers can do more to encourage the adoption of non-traditional services.
SMEs expect better service
South African SMEs expect better service and service-level agreements. They are not satisfied with current agreements and believe they can be improved in areas such as service reliability and response time to clear faults. This provides service providers with a good opportunity to differentiate their services based on the quality of service they provide.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
IN A NUTSHELL
KEY MESSAGES
SOUTH AFRICAN SMES ARE HIGHLY MOBILE
OPPORTUNITIES IN MANAGED SERVICES
TELCOS CAN PROVIDE MORE TO SMES
SMES EXPECT BETTER SERVICE
TELECOMS ATTITUDES AND BUDGETS
ATTITUDES TO TELECOMS
TELECOMS BUDGETS
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
WIRELINE PERSPECTIVE
FIXED SERVICES
VIDEO CONFERENCING
MOBILITY PERSPECTIVE
SOUTH AFRICAN SME MOBILE PRIORITIES
ABOUT OUR SURVEY
SCOPE
IN A NUTSHELL
KEY MESSAGES
SOUTH AFRICAN SMES ARE HIGHLY MOBILE
OPPORTUNITIES IN MANAGED SERVICES
TELCOS CAN PROVIDE MORE TO SMES
SMES EXPECT BETTER SERVICE
TELECOMS ATTITUDES AND BUDGETS
ATTITUDES TO TELECOMS
TELECOMS BUDGETS
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
WIRELINE PERSPECTIVE
FIXED SERVICES
VIDEO CONFERENCING
MOBILITY PERSPECTIVE
SOUTH AFRICAN SME MOBILE PRIORITIES
ABOUT OUR SURVEY
SCOPE
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: SMEs in South Africa: views on telecoms
Figure 2: SMEs in South Africa: change in annual telecoms expenditure
Figure 3: SMEs in South Africa: most important areas for improvement
Figure 4: SMEs in South Africa: sourcing trends
Figure 5: SMEs in South Africa: popularity of managed services
Figure 6: SMEs in South Africa: value-added fixed services
Figure 7: SMEs in South Africa: factors for moving to IP telephony
Figure 8: SMEs in South Africa: video conferencing demand
Figure 9: SMEs in South Africa: mobile priorities
Figure 10: SMEs in South Africa: mobile applications in use and planned use
Figure 1: SMEs in South Africa: views on telecoms
Figure 2: SMEs in South Africa: change in annual telecoms expenditure
Figure 3: SMEs in South Africa: most important areas for improvement
Figure 4: SMEs in South Africa: sourcing trends
Figure 5: SMEs in South Africa: popularity of managed services
Figure 6: SMEs in South Africa: value-added fixed services
Figure 7: SMEs in South Africa: factors for moving to IP telephony
Figure 8: SMEs in South Africa: video conferencing demand
Figure 9: SMEs in South Africa: mobile priorities
Figure 10: SMEs in South Africa: mobile applications in use and planned use
