Microsoft today released its first-ever Microsoft SMB Insight Report, which is planned as an annual study of the business challenges and technology priorities facing SMBs.

The report identified virtualization, IT consolidation, business intelligence, software as a service (SaaS) and support of remote workers as the top technology investment priorities for SMBs in 2009.

 

The authors surveyed over 600 Microsoft Small Business Specialists in five countries.

 

The following are some of Microsoft's key findings on the technologies most likely to drive growth and profitability for SMBs in 2009:

 

·         50% identified virtualization or IT consolidation through a small or midsize server as the technology most likely to reduce operating costs.

·         The Small Business Specialists expect a 20 % increase this year in the number of SMBs that use software as a service.

·         More than 50 % of the Small Business Specialists considered customer relationship management (CRM), virtualization or IT consolidation through a small or midsize server as the best investment for maximizing business growth in a down economy.

·         Nearly 40 % expect an increased interest in business intelligence and identified it as a critical tool for helping improve a customer's experience and increase loyalty.

·         More than half of the surveyed Small Business Specialists anticipate an increase in the number of SMB remote workers, and nearly 60 % expect that the shift to more remote workers also will lead to bigger roles and more responsibilities for those individuals working remotely.

 

A complete version of the 2009 Microsoft SMB Insight Report is available online.