Developers: Small Business Owners Need Mobile Solutions Too

by Holly Shoemaker

A recent survey commissioned by Bank of the West, a financial services holding company, and conducted by Harris Interactive provides some insight into developing apps and mobile solutions for small businesses. 

Overview of Findings

From the period of July 30, 2012 to August 29, 2012, Harris polled 504 owners of small businesses. The poll defined these businesses as having two or more employees with annual revenues of less than $10 million.

The survey showed that small businesses rely more on traditional technologies like email, instant message and texting, followed by calendars and scheduling and then GPS.

When it comes to using more advanced mobile technologies, the survey shows some positive trends:

• Nine out of 10 small business owners use mobile technology on smartphones, tablets and other devices.
• Eighty-three percent of respondents said individuals/entrepreneurs and small business could benefit the most from mobile technologies.

News for Developers

While 56 percent of the respondents said that security concerns prevented them from implementing more mobile technology, relevance outranks that factor. In the poll, three out of five, or 58 percent of respondents said that mobile technologies lacked relevance for their businesses.

These results show a gap in the market that app developers could use to their advantage as 68 percent of respondents said that mobile technology could increase efficiency and grow business. Respondents would like to see solutions that target more effective customer processes like payment and expense reporting.