More than half of SMEs believe that without the renewal of the technologies in the company, they can weaken in about 5 years

Half of respondents in Europe (51%) are introducing specific new technologies at work in order to respond to trends and opportunities as quickly as possible – Portugal is currently above this average at 60%. These are the results of Ricoh’s latest digital workplace study of 1608 PME directors from across Europe, 77 of which were Portuguese.

The majority (86%) of European SME managers say they are focused on improving business agility, of which 81.90% of Portugal’s responses also state that there is such concern within the workplace. For 52% of European SMEs, the fact that technologies are not being renewed or adapted to current needs could lead to a failure in the workplace within a maximum of 5 years. In Portugal the percentage is slightly higher, with 61.10% of the respondents agreeing with this projection.

Decision-makers in SMEs prioritize technology that directly addresses the basic needs of employees. In the case of Portuguese SMEs, automation (68.80%), data analysis (70.10%), document management (74%) and videoconferencing systems (64.90%) are the aspects that will have a more positive impact on the company.

The drive towards productivity and innovation leads to smarter technology in the workplace, which is considered a vital factor for business success. 67.60% of Portuguese respondents place technology at the center of their organization’s capacity, indicating the importance that SMEs give to the subject. The departments that prioritize the introduction of new technologies are the Department of Finance (57.10%), Marketing (49.40%) and Operations (41.60%).

Ramon Martin, CEO of Ricoh Portugal and Spain, said: “The directors of Portuguese SMEs choose to prioritize the investment in the tools that will have a real and positive impact on the final results. Those who have not yet done so should carefully consider how technology can enable their employees to work faster and wisely, making their business more agile. If they do not, they run the risk of being left behind. “

According to the Ricoh study, three factors impede the technological development of SMEs:

  • The first is the rigidity of the regulatory processes they have to face. 73% of respondents forget to talk about their internal processes by mentioning the elements they consider important to improve their agility, something that risks becoming a negative point within companies.
  • Another key factor is the hierarchy within the company. 35% of people surveyed say that the internal structure of the company often prevents the capitalization of market changes.
  • Finally, SMEs consider that the technology they have available in some cases is insufficient. 37% of SMEs talk about the lack of resources to invest in new technologies.