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IT benchmark survey highlights skills shortage and business-practice divide

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16th Jul 2007
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The biggest source of pain for business IT users is caused by the lack of skills to get the most out of their computer systems, according to early returns from TSG's IT benchmark survey. John Stokdyk reports.

A third of the early respondents identified lack of IT skills as a major source of pain and expense. This skills shortage was more acute for businesses (39%) than accountants in practice (31%), which was reflected by other survey responses which showed that businesses tended to take a more strategic view of technology than their business advisers.

Network speed and reliability presented problems for more than 20% of respondents, and 29% of business respondents said data backup was a major pain point. Reflecting the shortage of IT skills, 29% of businesses highlighted their dependence on a few skilled individuals.

Nearly half (47%) of the survey sample had experience of virus attacks, which typically slowed down performance of the computer network. Four out of 10 business respondents were able to resume full service within a day of their security incidents, but 40% of the accountants reported that it took them more than a day to recover.

Reflecting their experiences, 42% of respondents intend to invest in better security in the coming year; 36% plan to invest in training, 32% on their network installations and 26% will look to boost their data back-up facilities.

Remote/mobile working technology, accounting software and customer relationship management systems were also on the agenda for significant minorities. Demand for accounting software from practitioners was particularly strong, with 39% planning to spend in the coming year.

The TSG IT benchmark survey is intended to give respondents an opportunity to compare their technology use and strategies against regional and professional peer groups. The most striking difference to emerge from the first wave of participants is that business users have markedly more strategic view of technology than their advisers.

Of the early business respondents, 62% said they had a strategic plan for technology, compared to 53% of accountants.

While a quarter of respondents cited lack of funds as a limiting factor for technology investment, 39% accountant in practice said "lack of knowledge" held them back.

In contrast to accountants, several businesses wanted to see evidence of tangible benefits before they invested. When they did spend money on IT during the past year, 86% of businesses came in on or under budget, compared to 67% of accountants.

Managing directors of commercial businesses were more likely to view IT as critical to the business (42%) than their financial director colleagues (33%), while practitioners took a more relaxed view about it, with 30% citing technology as "very important" rather than critical.

When the TSG survey is completed at the end of July, the figures for different industries, job roles and regions will be compiled into a set of separate reports, so that participants will be able to assess themselves against their peers. Click here to take part.

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Dennis Howlett
By dahowlett
24th Jul 2007 05:30

Answers to all these
Most of these issues can be answered very easily. What disturbs me though is the disconnect between what TSG is finding and what Sage was saying. Both can't be right.

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