HP, in collaboration with Intel and Microsoft, looks to offer advice and support to small business owners through its newly founded HP SMB Forum HP South Africa today announced the formation of the HP SMB Forum – a council initiated in partnership with Intel and Microsoft to further the interests of domestic small to medium enterprises while strengthening their relationships with technology and technical solutions providers. This platform formally introduced to the public during a launch event on Wednesday 28 May at La Toscana, Montecasino. Hosted by renowned technology commentator Aki Anastasiou, representatives from HP, Intel and Microsoft took to the stage to discuss the significant impact technology can have on SMB growth in South Africa. According to Microsoft’s recently concluded economic impact report entitled Ahead of the curve: Lessons on technology and growth from small business leaders, small to medium sized organisations that are willing to embrace new solutions are better positioned to encourage job growth. Over two in five Tech Leaders report job growth since 2011. Tech Followers, however, are half as likely to report growth over the same period of time, despite recording a comparatively larger proportional increase in employee numbers in the three years from 2011 to 2013. Despite this, only one in three South African SMBs manage their IT resources using an external IT supplier and a further one in three have an internal IT department. Improving internal efficiencies, optimising key business processes and reducing cost are the top three objectives SMBs tend to have in mind when making IT investment decisions. Over nine in ten see improving internal efficiencies as an important consideration. This is especially true of Leaders, who are more likely to see this as an important area than Followers. Optimising key business processes is important for nine in ten (92%) Leaders, while Followers see reducing cost as a more important aspect relative to others. “Based on these results it is clear that local SMBs, although often willing to investigate new offerings, require input and assistance from solutions providers to better understand how technology can facilitate growth.  The direct correlation between adoption and expansion is telling. We feel that the small to medium business market is critical to the economic success of South Africa as a whole. As such, we look forward to engaging the country’s most dynamic entrepreneurs via the HP SMB Forum”, comments Tracey Newman, SME Lead for Microsoft SA. “Entrepreneurship is the engine that keeps the economic wheel turning. Despite this, SMB owners seldom receive the attention and support that they duly deserve. We hope, through the formation of the HP SMB Forum, to extend an offering of partnership to this vibrant community and look forward to working closely with them in the future”, adds Adele Oosthuizen: Enterprise, SMB and commercial channel sales manager.