Web Hosting Provider Novara Survey: Are you prepared for 2006?

January 9, 2006; 09:14 AM

Award winning hosting company Novara.ie are committed to innovation and keeping abreast of all the latest technologies in order to ensure that we continue to provide our customers with the highest quality service.

We have found that the best way to keep ahead of the competition is to listen carefully to what the average user is saying about their requirements. Therefore we conducted telephone surveys of representatives of 50 companies from a broad spread of Irish industry sectors in December 2005, with a view to determining IT wants and needs for 2006. The findings were quite surprising.

Our December survey found:

A. When asked “Do you have a business plan for 2006” respondents answered:
1. Yes: 45%
2. No: 44%
3. Not prepared to comment for commercial reasons:  11%

B. Those that answered yes were asked “What will you be seeking from the IT component of your business plan for 2006”:

1. Greater capacity through upgrading current IT infrastructure:  30%
2. Seeking better value from existing IT services:  22% 
3. Outsourcing more IT services:  18%
4. Upgrading existing software applications:  11%
5. Developing the capability to conduct E-Commerce  7% 
6. Improve security of existing IT infrastructure: 7%

C. When asked “What software will you be using to implement your IT solutions in 2006” respondents answered:
1. In house developed:  35%
2. Microsoft: 55%
3. No selection indicated:  10%

D. When asked “What do you foresee as the main benefit to your company’s growth from your IT investment in 2006” respondents answered:

1. Providing capacity for business growth: 35% of respondents stated that they foresee a growth in their business, such as, increased client base, improved customer experience, improved products and services, as a result of their IT investment.
2. Putting current business processes Online: 26% of respondents stated they realise the efficiency gains that can be made by making existing process available on the web via an extranet. 
3. Improved Internal Efficiency:  18% of respondents stated that they foresee a significant improvement in the areas of internal communication, project management and general operations, as a result of their IT investment
4. Increased Online Sales:  7% of respondents stated that they foresee a significant increase in the number of online sales as a result of their IT investment.

In the section where respondents were asked if they had any other comments:

15% of respondents stated that they are currently unhappy with the cost of domain registration in Ireland.

1% of respondents stated that the .EU domain registration would be important for their business in 2006