- 81% of Irish businesses believe that communications technology is a fundamental part of how they operate
- 60% of Irish businesses use technology to differentiate their business from the competition

Dublin, 4th September 2013: New research finds that 81% of Irish businesses consider communications and IT technology as a fundamental part of how they operate. The research[1] was commissioned in advance of the launch of Vodafone’s new business packages, Vodafone Red Business[2] to gain greater insight into Irish small business trends. The research indicates that increased numbers of Irish businesses are embracing new communications technology and the positive impact it has on business performance and growth, with 60% using technology to differentiate from the competition.

The research investigates the changing attitudes of Irish businesses to emerging communications products as a strategic business tool. It reveals that investment in communications technology is a priority for over three quarters of Irish businesses.

Adoption of technology in business is reflected strongly in the research with over half (52%) already using tablets, 90% using smartphones and 38% using managed devices. Significantly, 86% believe that the use of technology within business will increase in importance over the next two years with the take-up of cloud services looking to reach 60% and mobile data services set to reach 94%. Moreover, 72% of small businesses said they would embrace technology sooner if they had greater assistance in finding the right solution for their specific business needs.

Séamus Marnane, Director, Catering Innovation Agency, a business providing catering equipment to the hospitality sector, believes information and communications technology has played a fundamental role in driving business growth and gaining competitive advantage.

“We have moved to a more flexible and productive way of working for the past number of years and having the right advice about new communications technology has really helped us to deliver this. We are a small business so customer service and responsiveness is very important. We also have employees out on site so being able to connect back to the office to share customer information has demonstrated our superior quality of service which in turn has helped our business move forward.”

Claire Reynolds, Small Business Manager with Vodafone Ireland said, “We have seen significant increases in the number of small businesses who not only recognise the importance of communications technology but who are actively embracing it and incorporating it into their strategic business plans. Vodafone can provide the right advice and communications solutions to contribute to a company’s strategic plan to help deliver competitive edge.”

The new Vodafone RED Business packages offer small business customers worry free usage and ‘Landline on your Mobile’[3], a feature exclusive to Vodafone, Ireland leading mobile network, which provides a virtual landline number that connects straight to a mobile. To find out more go to www.vodafone.ie/small-business