BE2X

Better connections with customers, more efficient use of resources will drive future IT investments. Small and medium-sized businesses intend to expand their use of technology to improve customer interactions, mobility options and operational efficiencies, according to a new study released recently by CompTIA, the non-profit trade association for the information technology (IT) industry. Seven out of ten small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) surveyed said they expect to increase their technology spending over the next 12 months, according to CompTIA's Third Annual Small and Medium Business Technology Adoptions Trends study. A full third of the companies surveyed expect to increase their IT budget by 10 percent or more. This may reflect large, one-time purchases, which is still a good sign for technology vendors and solution providers. In the aggregate, expect SMB IT budgets to increase by an average of slightly over 5 percent, with some firms' growth rates much higher and some flat. "Technology is...