Features

IT Computing for SMBs Is a High Strategic Priority for Vendors

By Sophia Mayengbam

IBM has emerged as the market leader in the small and medium business and mid-market segment for IT computing, revealed the results of Yankee Group’s scorecard on vendors of SMBs and IT computing products and services. IBM was followed bye a tie between Dell and HP.

Today, mid-sized firms also have the same requirements as larger firms for products ranging from data & storage, enterprise solutions to software architecture. And IT software vendors are now increasingly targeting on capturing the growing market.

The Yankee Group Report, ‘Is IT Computing for the SMB and Mid-Market a Strategic Priority for Dell, IBM, HP and Sun?’, provides a comprehensive view of the US market from both the demand side (customer perspective) and the supply side (vendor perspective) on computing systems, servers, desktops, laptops and management software, as well as customers’ opinions on vendors’ pricing, quality, reliability and services. The Report is based on the Yankee Group 2005 Small & Medium Business IT Infrastructure Survey.

According to the study, IBM’s focus and leadership in this segment come from its innovation, solutions and services. Its Express line of business and systems solutions is aggressively priced and packaged for better availability and delivery.

Dell continues to be the volume leader in the SMB segment for servers, desktops and laptops. Its web site is user-friendly and features tools that educate SMBs on new technology solutions, revealed the study.

Hewlett-Packard, which once lead the market has in the segment has slipped. However, the IT research firm said that the company has a unique opportunity to capture a large share of the very small business segment with two to 50 employees.

Yankee Groups said Sun Microsystems has some traction in the computing market, but it continues to struggle in the overall SMB segment.

"Increased focus on SMB- and mid-market-specific business solutions is just one proof point that IT computing for this segment is a strategic priority for the top computing vendors IBM, Dell, HP and Sun," said Sanjeev Aggarwal, Yankee Group Small & Medium Business Strategies senior analyst.

He concluded, "For vendors to increase their market share with SMBs and mid-market companies, a focus on innovative changes in products and channel programs will be instrumental."


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