Microsoft study: Small and medium-sized businesses growing fast by embracing digital technologies

| Kevin Peesker, Worldwide President for Small, Medium and Corporate and Digital

Women and men in an office

Eighty percent of businesses expect to be hybrid – four tips for data security and compliance.

Sustainability is the #1 ESG priority for Small and Medium Businesses – how to reduce your carbon footprint.

Early adopters of technology grow faster – practical steps to accelerate your digital journey.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the cornerstone of every community. With an estimated 400 million SMBs operating worldwide, they account for 99% of global organizations. SMBs are the main source of job creation, making up between 60%-85% of employment. [1] [2]  And according to the International Labor Organization, by some estimates, SMBs contribute up to 70% of GDP.[3]

With that kind of scale and impact, SMBs need the ability to innovate to be successful and thrive in a digitally enabled economy.

During the pandemic, we saw that businesses able to accelerate their digital transformation fared better than those that did not. Many reported growth through their focus on tech intensity.

Under such unprecedented circumstances, Microsoft was curious to learn how SMBs view the current realities of their businesses, to understand their goals and priorities, and to assess whether technology is seen as a catalyst to future success.

Analysys Mason was commissioned to conduct research with over 3,000 SMBs from 10 different areas of the world, representing the global footprint of SMBs.

Today, we are releasing our findings with the Microsoft SMB Voice and Attitudes to Technology Study 2022.

Top insights

Digital technology adoption contributes to faster growth

SMB chart primary business objectivesThe study confirms that nearly 70% of businesses consider growth as their primary driver, and technology “early adopters” saw faster and higher growth.  Businesses identified as early adopters are twice as likely to have achieved their past business objectives plus higher revenue growth over the past year and are also four times more likely to be highly confident in their future business success. Today, businesses are focusing on sustaining growth despite geopolitical uncertainty, high inflation and energy prices. For 51% of businesses, the ongoing impact of COVID-19 remains a concern.

Security and reliability form the foundation

More than two-thirds of SMBs plan to increase their IT budgets in the next year, prioritizing investments in the following ways:SMB graphic about technology

Eighty percent of businesses expect to have a hybrid workforce for at least the next two years and require the technology to support their business goals in a reliable and secure way.

Partners help drive strategy and SMB growth

While the majority of SMBs recognize the importance of technology in reaching business goals, 16% see it as essential. However, many SMBs need partners to map the right technology to their business strategy.  Almost half choose technology partners, with 33% favoring Managed Service Providers or Cloud Solution Providers whom they expect to proactively recommend technology solutions to accelerate companies’ business goals.

Two women hold business meeting

The millennial factor

Millennials hold 41% of technology decision-making roles. They tend to work for newer companies and 13% are more likely to see technology as important or essential to business success. Nearly one-third of millennials identify as technophiles in their personal lives, carrying some of their consumer traits into how they research and purchase technology, placing high value on peer ratings and reviews when making purchasing decisions. In 2016, Gallup flagged that millennials favor purpose over paycheck in their How Millennials Work and Live report. Millennials as business owners apply those values to their business and technology priorities.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals – no longer just for the enterprise

Two-thirds of SMBs in the study report having ESG assessment and monitoring frameworks in place. Millennials are leading the way, being the most likely to have an annual report dedicated to their ESG progress. In terms of focus areas, 37% cited lowering their environmental impact, 30% wanted to improve their diversity and inclusion, while 30% were focused on job creation.  The study points to a link between an ESG focus and attainment of business objectives – with both these traits being most prevalent among early adopters.

Ninety-nine percent of the world’s businesses are actively seeking solutions to address current challenges and generate new opportunities. This community impacts economies worldwide and the livelihoods of billions. They do this not to just be resilient and survive, but to thrive and bring innovation to their industries and value to their customers. Microsoft continues to listen to and learn from our SMB customers, aligning to what is their top of mind.

Together, the possibilities are endless, and opportunity abounds for all.

(more…)

Join Founder Sean Ferrel at NexGen 2017 To Learn How Innovative CIOs Are Using Emerging Tech To Transform The Business

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Managed Solution Founder Sean Ferrel to Speak at NexGen 2017

The Channel Co. is hosting the annual NexGen Cloud Conference December 11-13, 2017. Swing by booth 211 to visit the Managed Solution team on December 11th!
Promo Code: StratoGator for FREE Registration 
Register here.
In addition, Managed Solution's founder, Sean Ferrel, will be speaking at the event on Monday, December 11th at 3pm in the Platinum Ballroom DE. Sean will be joining a panel to discuss "Customer Perspectives--How Innovative CIOs Are Using Emerging Tech To Transform The Business".
"IT leaders must re-imagine their MSP and solution provider organizations to become cloud brokers and lead the way as Microsoft, Amazon and other publishers help drive future revenue. In this session, next-gen managed service provider Sean Ferrel will discuss cloud marketplaces, brokerage and the long-term effects of managing customers' cloud strategies. The public cloud still offers a whole new world of recurring revenue for partners." 
Today’s IT leaders are under incredible pressure to innovate and move fast not for technology’s sake but for the sake of the business. Today’s technology leaders must help the business deliver a competitive advantage and put innovative tech to work in transformative ways. Solution providers, along with their vendor partners, have spent the better part of the past two years talking about and coping with a period of unprecedented tech innovation. So, the big question is: How are today’s customers adapting to all this change and putting tech to work to achieve their goals. In this session, some of today’s most innovative CIOs and IT leaders will share their insight into what emerging technologies they are adapting, what they want from partners and how they are coping with the rapid pace of change. Attendees will hear from these leaders who are at the intersection of technology and business. Hear firsthand the impact of today’s leading technologies on the supply chain, employees, customers and workers that these CIOs and IT leaders must respond to every day.
Sean Ferrel, founder of Managed Solution, provides strategic vision and direction for the company. His innovative business models and forward thinking cloud strategies have caught the eye of strategic partners and created recognition in the cloud computing community. Sean presented at events including SD AITP Cloud Conference, Scale Matrix Cloud Conference, and multiple Microsoft tech events. He has been awarded as a finalist for SD Executive of the Year and 40 under 40 and also serves on the boards of SD AITP, SDCC Technology, MSEC Technology, USD Alumni and Social Venture Partners & Vistage.

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Managed Solution announces Title Sponsorship of AITP's 2nd Annual Golf Tournament

San Diego, CA – Managed Solution announces Title Sponsorship of Association of Technology Professional's San Diego Chapter, 2nd Annual Golf Tournament held on October 20th, 2017 at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad. This year's tournament benefits Computers 2 SD Kids; helping to make a difference in the life of a school child living without access to technology.

Managed Solution supports Non-Profits to bring together partners in the community as well as raise funds to promote and support educational and charitable programs. In 2015, they raised over $6K for Just in Time Foster Youth and in 2016, they raised $10K for Computers 2 San Diego Kids.

The tournament will conclude with raffle prizes and a Buffet to congratulate the tournament winners. First, second, and third place winners will receive invitations to play in the Randy Jones Invitational in January 2018.

About Managed Solution:

Managed Solution is a Technology as a Service (TaaS) company, offering hardware, software and premium service tiers and specializes in forecasting technology infrastructure for small to enterprise sized businesses. Managed Solution provides a full spectrum of managed and professional services with an award-winning US-based 24/7 Help Desk headquartered in Southern California. Managed Solution was founded in 2002 and was quickly recognized as one of San Diego’s 40 fastest growing companies and the 27th fastest growing IT company in Southern California. Managed Solution provides IT services nationwide and is recognized as one of the top 10 National Cloud Service Providers.

About AITP San Diego:

A volunteer driven, Non-Profit organization dedicated to serving the San Diego professional community by providing a forum to present issues and trends relating to the management of information.

CEO, Sean Ferrel, Featured in Upcoming Barney and Barney CRM Seminar

Techniques Workshop Series:
Customer Relationship Management Tools

 

Barney and Barney Upcoming Seminar

Are you a non-profit professional whose organization currently uses
a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, but find that it
does not seem to suit your organization’s unique needs? Does it
not work well with other systems or you find yourself spinning
wheels looking for information when you need it the most?

Join our expert panel for an informative and objective look at four
commonly used CRM tools and the various ways organizations can
utilize them to their advantage. This seminar will analyze the
following CRM tools:

Whether you find CRMs difficult to use or you are deciphering if a
CRM will benefit your organization, this seminar is a great
opportunity to get an in-depth foundation of CRMs and how they
can work for you.

 

Featured Panelists:

Jason Tucker
Manager of Donor Relations, Ocean Discovery Institute

Jeff Hancock
CEO, Social Data Systems

Sean Ferrel
CEO, Managed Solution

Rachel Luis y Prado
COO & Chief Academic Officer, Workshop for Warriors

Tuesday
February 7, 2017

11:30 am Registration
12:00 am - 1:30 pm Program
Lunch provided
Attendance is complimentary

Barney & Barney Community Conference Center

9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 150
San Diego, CA 92122

Learn more here!

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WIT Holiday Technology Toy Drive & Lunch

WIT Holiday Technology Toy Drive & Lunch

Give back this holiday season with the San Diego IAMCP Women in Technology community! Come enjoy lunch and networking at Vintana Wine + Dine in Escondido on Thursday, December 15th from 1pm-4pm. The Technology Toy Drive will be providing toys for San Diego's Adoptive and Foster Care Boys & Girls, with toys being delivered to Straight From the Heart in San Marcos.
Please bring a new, unwrapped Techie-Toy for a donation.

For more information and to purchase tickets click here

Help JIT Meet its $200k Goal to Support Foster Youths

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Help JIT Meet its $200k Goal to Support Foster Youths

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Each year, approximately 300 youth reach the age of 18 and transition out of the foster care. But with little or no support the odds and the statistics are stacked against them. Managed Solution invites supporters to once again invest to support the JIT programs that build self-sufficiency for over 500 youth each year.
Just In Time for Foster Youth is running a program called "Pathways to Financial Power", where JIT participants can learn important business skills, such as overcoming self-limiting beliefs, cultivating effective resumes, and interview skills. Discovering a Pathway to Financial Power breaks the cycle of foster care and gives the next generation an opportunity to make a contribution of their own.

$53K more to go to meet $200K goal

Companies are investing in the JIT Pathways to Financial Power program to assist foster youths in learning how to take control of their finances. Our VP of Cloud and Vendor Operations, Jennell Mott, is the Board Secretary for JIT.  Support Managed Solution's  own employee while helping a great cause for amazing kids.  JIT only needs $53K more to meet its $200K goal before the 2016 Pathway to Financial Power event on September 24, 2016.
The event will provide knowledge and networking to:
* Develop a customized resume & cover letter
* Uncover the Top 10 “credit building myths”
* Create a LinkedIn page & maximize social media
* Learn their Strengthsfinder profile & how to use it
* Connect to training & employers with open jobs
* Shop for professional clothing to make a great impression
* Practice an “elevator speech” to tell their story
* Meet volunteers in their potential career field
* Match savings up to $4,500
* Overcome persistent employment roadblocks

For more information on the event and details on how to invest, visit jitfosteryouth.org

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Managed Solution demonstrates its commitment to people through contributions, charitable sponsorships and employee volunteer programs in the communities where we work and live. “Committed Redefined” is integral to every company initiative. Managed Solution Cares!

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Webinar On Demand: The Public Cloud War - Microsoft Azure vs. Amazon Web Services

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Preparing to move to public or hybrid cloud? Tune in learn more about the differences of Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. The webinar discusses security, network infrastructure, and resources needed on premise when preparing to connect to cloud.
TOPICS:
-Why Public Cloud / Security
-Understanding the Difference between Azure and AWS
-Comparing the Basics: Features
-Cost Comparisons with the Competition
-Using both Platforms Together
-Which Cloud is Right for You?
Webinar presented by Sean Ferrel, Chairman & Founder at Managed Solution.

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Considering AWS or Azure? Compare Real-Time Pricing

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Achieve IT infrastructure cost savings of at least 50%

Call Southern California’s most trusted name in cloud at 800-208-3617 for real time pricing and a cost benefit analysis for Microsoft's Azure and Amazon's AWS.

 

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Find your best path to a truly consistent hybrid cloud

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Overcome complexity and optimize your existing assets

Identify workloads you can move to the cloud and decide which assets to keep on-premises, while using common skill sets across both.

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Help your developers work more productively together

Maximize existing skills by migrating to a hybrid cloud solution, and get a flexible, unified approach to building apps that can run in the cloud or on-premises.

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Centralize management and security across your hybrid cloud

Gain visibility and control over all assets from your datacenter to the cloud.

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Boost employee productivity while protecting corporate information

Provide single sign-on to on-premises and cloud apps from virtually anywhere.

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COME VISIT US! Pop-Up Event in Los Angeles

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We're having a pop-up event in Los Angeles! Come visit us at Pershing Square 532 S Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 (next to the farmers market) to learn more about what we can do for you with technology. Experience hands-on interaction with some of our newest Microsoft devices now until 3 PM
Then stay late for our networking happy hour at the Biltmore Hotel Gallery Bar (506 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071) from 5 PM to 7 PM. We'll have raffles, prizes, our Microsoft Device Bar, and great people!
At Managed Solution, our team is invested in our customers and your business, and we can't wait to see you there!

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