Most (86%) Small Business Owners `Agree' Having Reliable Communications Technology Support is Essential in Allowing them to Focus on Their Core Business
Of the small business owners polled, the average amount of time per week that owners are spending, themselves, on managing their company's communications technology is 6.9 hours a week. It's not surprising then that eight in ten (80%) `agree' (39% strongly/41% somewhat) that `communications technology support is as important to their business as professional services that are part of their extended team (i.e. legal, accounting, etc)'. Just two in ten (20%) `disagree' (6% strongly/14% somewhat).
When choosing a communications technology partner, price is the most important factor according to 40% of small business owners polled. Three in ten (29%) say knowledge of their unique business sector and/or industry needs is the most important attribute, while two in ten (16%) say it's the physical presence of that technology partner, having a live person to meet with instead of an automated system. Nearly one in ten (7%) say the most important factor for them is a partner that understands the local market, and having a good rapport with that partner (8%).
In the end, eight in ten (80%) small business owners polled say that customer service makes or breaks their choice of telecommunications partners, while just two in ten (20%) don't think it does.
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between April 29 and May 5, 2011, on behalf of Rogers. For this survey, a sample of 1,027 adults who own/operate a small business from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of small business owners in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Sean Simpson
Associate Vice President
Ipsos Reid
416.572.4474
[email protected]
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
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