TSG survey: IT can help, but firms reluctant to spend

Posted by AccountingWEB PM | on Tue, 09/08/2005 - 09:01 2590 1 comment

The fast-growing Technology Services Group (TSG) has published a survey showing that companies appreciate IT systems can improve their businesses, but security fears, lack of funds and skill shortages are holding back their investment plans.

TSG carried out the online survey of 756 businesses in conjunction with AccountingWEB.

Continued...

Yeah, right

adam.arca | Thu, 11/08/2005 - 12:59 | Permalink

I don't want to appear unduly cynical but the tone of incredulity from TSG does really take the biscuit as I would have thought the reason users are reluctant to invest was obvious.

Admittedly, I am towards the bottom end of the scale in terms of computer requirements, but I would imagine my experiences are fairly typical. In the late 90s and early 00s, there was a fast pace of change and we all persuaded ourselves to upgrade because of the perceived benefits (a "no brainer" we were all told).

And what happened? the perceived benefits didn't flow but we were told that 'no, that last version wasn't quite right but this next one really will cut the mustard.' So, of course we all upgraded again and then found that we still didn't get the benefits we expected.

Now that the pace of change has slowed, I can't see any imperative to upgrade and the computer people I see certainly aren't putting forward a credible case for it.

Really, the computer industry has made its own problems with its reckless promises from the past. Until they change their spots and start to sell users on benefits that will really happen, I can't see a lot changing for them (unless of course there is some great leap forward in functionality; I hope not as we'll all be back to square one then).