New technology important for productivity but reliable information sparse, say UK businesses

London, UK, July 11 2018
A new TomTom (TOM2) Telematics study reveals UK businesses adopt disruptive technology to improve productivity and better manage employees, but are discouraged by a lack of reliable information.

TomTom Telematics, a provider of fleet management and connected car services, found that more than two-thirds of businesses (68%) believe technology is important in recruiting, motivating and retaining employees. Meanwhile, increasing productivity (19%), increasing sales (11%), lowering business costs (11%) and improving customer service (11%) were the most commonly cited motivators for adopting new technology.

Half of businesses (49%), however, believe there is a lack of reliable advice for those looking to introduce new technology systems, with 24% citing a lack of information from providers as a major challenge to adoption. Other key challenges cited include a lack of expertise within the organization (29%), an inability to find a provider that fits with the organisation (31%) and cost (38%).

We’re now living in the connected world, said Beverley Wise, Director UK & Ireland at TomTom Telematics. Businesses need to work with disruptive technology or risk being left behind by their competitors.

We commissioned this research to paint a clear picture of the current technology adoption landscape for businesses, highlight the challenges they face when adopting and advise on what trends they should be paying closest attention to.

Despite the significant role technology plays in the workplace, just 41% of businesses say they are early adopters of technology innovations, with almost a third (32%) saying their use of technology at home is more advanced than at work.

There’s a noticeable reluctance to adopting emerging solutions amongst many UK businesses, said Wise. This is particularly prevalent among SMEs, with these businesses 10% less likely to be early adopters of new technology than their larger competitors (37% vs 47%). But sitting on your hands while others make use of the latest innovations is a major risk.

When choosing a provider, the research found that technological support and usability was the biggest consideration (32%).

It’s vital for companies to do their research to ensure they are investing in systems that will be intuitive, supportive and well-suited to their business processes, Wise added.

At TomTom Telematics, we take this very seriously. From in-depth, hands-on information about our services, to strategically useful data like that revealed in this study, we believe in offering companies all the information they need to make the best decision.

An illustrated report of the findings, including actionable insight and advice, is now available on the TomTom Telematics website here.