INTERVIEW – Women-led SMEs lag in tech use
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GUEST – Arthur Goldstuck - World Wide Worx CEO
The inaugural South African SME Tech Index 2023 showed an overall level of 63.3%, which indicates that 63.3% of small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMEs) in South Africa are making effective use of technology. However, this also means that there is still a considerable way to go to empower small businesses to use technology to improve their competitiveness and resilience, market research company World Wide Worx CEO Arthur Goldstuck said in an August 17 briefing.
The research also showed a significant difference in effective technology use between SMEs led by women and those led by men, with 56.2% of women-led SMEs reporting effective or very effective use of technology, compared with 72.1% of SMEs led by men. This highlights a disparity in access to technology. However, the research also found that 62.3% of women-led SMEs saw growth over the past 12 months, while only 51.9% of SMEs led by men saw growth over the same time. “Female-led businesses have demonstrated higher competitiveness and adeptness in navigating challenges, contributing to their success and expansion,” Goldstuck said.
The inaugural South African SME Tech Index 2023 showed an overall level of 63.3%, which indicates that 63.3% of small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMEs) in South Africa are making effective use of technology. However, this also means that there is still a considerable way to go to empower small businesses to use technology to improve their competitiveness and resilience, market research company World Wide Worx CEO Arthur Goldstuck said in an August 17 briefing.
The research also showed a significant difference in effective technology use between SMEs led by women and those led by men, with 56.2% of women-led SMEs reporting effective or very effective use of technology, compared with 72.1% of SMEs led by men. This highlights a disparity in access to technology. However, the research also found that 62.3% of women-led SMEs saw growth over the past 12 months, while only 51.9% of SMEs led by men saw growth over the same time. “Female-led businesses have demonstrated higher competitiveness and adeptness in navigating challenges, contributing to their success and expansion,” Goldstuck said.
