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SMBs: Marketplace for Connectivity and IoT

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    Report

  • June 2023
  • Region: Global
  • Parks Associates
  • ID: 5877788

This research provides insight on technology adoption and needs among SMB owners, with a specific focus on connectivity, IoT devices, and services. It examines the changes taking place because of reduced budgets and broad-scale shifts to work from home.

Small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) have a new and heightened need for access control, energy management, and tools to monitor their staff, inventory, and buildings.

New security applications and services stemming from cloud-based and video verification solutions give SMBs insight into the metrics and real-time analytics of their operations.

The market pressures SMBs have faced this year place new priorities on energy management and savings and technologies that can streamline operations and combine risk-management with potential insurance savings. The changing work environment means that managing and securing their networks, and their ever-growing portfolio of end-user devices, are top priorities. SMBs are increasingly turning to ISPs for Wi-Fi management, network security, and other value-added services (VAS).

Table of Contents


Survey Methodology
Executive Summary
  • SMB Business Concerns
  • SMB Spending on IoT Equipment Over the Last 12 Months
  • Top Drivers of SMB Interest in IoT Devices
  • Expected Spending Increase on IoT Equipment by Number of Business Locations
  • Inhibitors to Using Connected Security Devices
  • SMB Spending on Business Services
  • % of SMBs Without Service Likely to Subscribe in Next 12 Months
  • Providers Considered for Connected Solutions
Respondent/SMB Profile
  • Current Role at the Company
  • Role in Company IT Decisions
  • Company Size (# of Employees)
  • Annual Revenues in 2022
  • Type of Customers Served
  • Annual Revenues by Type of Customers Served
  • Type of Location Where Employees Work
  • Number of Locations Where Business Operates
Remote Work: Challenges and Outlook
  • Frequency of Employees Working from Home
  • Challenges of Employees Working from Home
  • Challenges of Employees Working from Home by Frequency of Employees Working from Home
  • Anticipated Future Needs: Remote Work & Business Properties
  • Anticipated Future Need for Remote Work by Frequency of Employees Working from Home
  • Anticipated Future Need for Work at Customer’s Locations by Working at Customer’s Location
Business Services: Communication, Entertainment, Support
  • Number of IT Professionals
  • Number of IT Personnel by Company Size
  • Business Service Subscriptions
  • Internet Service Providers
  • Internet Service Payment
  • Service Providers
  • Average Monthly Spending on Service Subscriptions Among All SMBs
  • Average Monthly Spending on Service Subscriptions Among SMBs with Specified Service
  • Average Monthly Spending on Service Subscriptions by Company Size
  • Satisfaction with Business Service
  • Average Spending on Entertainment Services by Number of Locations
  • Average Spending on Mobile Phone Service by Type of Customers Served
  • Change in Spending on Business Service Over the Last 12 Months
  • Anticipated Change in Spending on Business Services
  • Anticipated Change in Spending on Business Services by Company Size
  • Likelihood of Subscribing to Additional Business Services
Deep Dive: Communication Services
  • Appeal of Communication Service Features
  • Appeal of Communication Service Features by Number of IT Personnel
  • Anticipated Cost per Person for Advanced Video Conferencing Services
  • Anticipated Cost per Person for Advanced Video Conferencing Services by Number of Business Locations
  • Preferred Provider for Video Conferencing Services
  • Preferred Provider for Video Conferencing Services by Number of Business Locations
  • Reasons for Preferring Video Conferencing Device Provider
IoT Device Adoption and Use
  • Type of Network Used in Business Location
  • IoT Equipment Adoption
  • Connected Security & Energy Management Device Integration
  • Connected Safety & Connected AV Device Integration
  • Top 10 Equipment Products/Systems Provided by Property Owners/Management Company
  • Equipment Products/Systems Provided by Property Owners/Management Company, Cont’d
  • The Degree to which Equipment Meets Needs
  • Energy Management & Connected Safety Devices User Experience by Number of Business Locations
  • Spending on IoT Equipment Over the Last 12 Months
  • Expected Expenditure on IoT Equipment
  • Expected Spending Increase on IoT Equipment by Number of Business Locations
  • Business Concerns by Expected Spending Increase on IoT Equipment
  • Anticipated Use of Connected Security & Energy Management Devices
  • Anticipated Use of Connected Safety & Connected AV Devices
  • Anticipated Use of Security & Energy Management Devices by Number of IT Personnel
  • Anticipated Use of Security & Energy Management Devices by Number of Business Locations
  • Anticipated Use of Safety & Connected AV Devices by Number of Business Locations
Deep Dive: Connected Security
  • Adoption of Security System & Professional Monitoring Service
  • Age of Security System
  • Security System Adoption by Number of Business Locations
  • Number of False Alarms Experienced Last Year
  • IoT Security Device Adoption
  • Security/Monitoring Camera Adoption by Use of Office Building
  • Reasons for Using Connected Security Solutions
  • Reasons for Using Connected Security Devices by Number of Business Locations
  • Inhibitors to Using Connected Security Devices
  • Inhibitors to Using of Connected Security Devices by Number of Business Locations
  • Appeal of Connected Security Features
  • Appeal of Connected Security Features by Number of IT Personnel
  • Top Purchase Consideration for Connected Security Devices
  • Providers Considered for Connected Security Devices
  • Provider Considered for Connected Security Devices by Number of Business Locations
  • Reasons for Preferring Connected Security Device Provider
  • Reasons for Preferring Connected Security Device Provider by Number of Employees
Deep Dive: Energy Management
  • Smart Energy Device Adoption
  • Smart Energy Device Adoption, by Security System Use
  • Reasons for Using Energy Management Devices
  • Inhibitors to Using Energy Management Devices
  • Appeal of Energy Management Features
  • Top Purchase Consideration for Energy Management Devices
  • Preferred Provider for Energy Management Devices
  • Reason for Preferring Provider of Smart Energy Equipment
Deep Dive: Connected Safety
  • Smart Safety Device Adoption
  • Smart Safety Device Adoption, by Security System Use
  • Reasons for Using Connected Safety Devices
  • Reasons for Using Connected Safety Device by Company Size
  • Inhibitors to Using Connected Safety Devices
  • Appeal of Connected Safety Features
  • Top Purchase Consideration for Connected Safety Devices
  • Preferred Providers for Connected Safety Devices
  • Reasons for Preferring Connected Safety Device Provider
  • Reason for Preferring ISP and Retailer for Smart Safety Equipment
  • Reason for Preferring Provider of Smart Energy Equipment
Deep Dive: Support & Cybersecurity
  • Connectivity & IoT Technical Problems Experienced in the Last 12 Months
  • Connectivity & IoT Technical Problems by Number of Business Locations
  • Party Solving Technical Problems
  • Party Solving Technical Problems by Number of IT Personnel
  • Method of Receiving Outside Technical Support
  • Cybersecurity Concerns About Connected Systems and Vendors
  • High Cybersecurity Concerns, by Number of Business Locations
  • Type of Cyber Attacks Experienced Last Year
  • Steps Taken to Reduce Threat of Cyber Attacks
  • Steps Taken to Reduce Threat of Cyber Attacks by Employees Working at Home
  • Steps Taken to Reduce Threat of Cyber Attacks by Working at Customers’ Locations
  • Cybersecurity Services Used
  • Cybersecurity Services Used by Employees Working at Home
  • Appeal of Technical Support Services
  • Appeal of Technical Support Services by Number of IT Personnel
  • Expected Cost of Cybersecurity and Support Service per Employee
  • Expected Cost of Cybersecurity and Support Service per Employee by Number of Business Locations
  • Insurance Carried by Company
  • Insurance Carried by Company by Company Revenue
Real Estate and Business Profile
  • Number of Business Locations by Type of Customers Served
  • Ownership of Building by Type of Location Where Employees Work
  • Business Location Size (Sq. Ft.)
  • Average Number of Entrance/Exits
  • Type of Entrance/Exits
  • Average Daily Number of Non-Employees Visiting Business Location
  • Type of Assets Stored by Type of Location Where Employees Work
  • Payment Model For Utilities
  • SMB Industry
  • Region of Primary Company Location
Appendix