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InfoTrends to Conduct Major Multi-Client Study on the SMB Business Communications Opportunity

(Weymouth, MA) June 04, 2009. . .For print service providers seeking new opportunities in today’s challenging market, the small and medium-sized business (SMB) segment is one that should not be overlooked. Despite their small size, SMBs have a wide range of communications needs including corporate identity (e.g., business cards), marketing collateral, direct marketing (e.g., direct mail, e-mail, Web), point-of-sales material, transactional documents (e.g., invoices), and publication. In addition, with over 6 million establishments, the SMB segment represents a sizable base of potential customers for service providers.

Access to the Internet and affordable digital technology has had a major impact on how SMBs fulfill their business communications needs. Requirements are getting broader and more complex as marketing spends are moving online. Furthermore, the need for more efficient business processes and regulatory compliance in many SMB verticals is stimulating demand for more robust document management.

Clearly, these changes represent a tremendous opportunity for service providers. Barb Pellow, Group Leader at InfoTrends, commented, “SMBs need help figuring out how to successfully market products and/or services in a single channel, be it direct mail, retail, or the Internet. These SMBs also want the ability to extend their communication efforts across two or more channels, but do not have the time or money to do so effectively by themselves. Savvy service providers are leveraging the Web to build vertically-focused solutions to aggregate volume in various SMB market segments.”

To help service providers build strategies that will allow them to fully capitalize on this market, InfoTrends is launching a major multi-client study entitled Capturing the SMB Business Communications Opportunity. In addition to helping service providers navigate the SMB market, the study will also highlight various innovative approaches to the market. The study will cover the following aspects of the SMB market:

• Top business priorities for the next 12 months
• Key applications by SMB verticals
• Spend and outlook across document types
• Internal output infrastructure and resources (e.g., hardware, software, personnel)
• External business communications service providers’ relationships, considerations, and prevailing go-to-market strategies
• Usage of e-mail, Web, and mobile channels for customer acquisitions/retentions
• Current pain points and future requirements on business communications

To develop a full perspective on this fragmented market, InfoTrends will deploy a structured Web survey to at least 1,200 SMBs (firms with less than 500 employees) in the United States to respondents across several industries including:

• Retail
• Professional Services (e.g., legal, accounting, architecture)
• Healthcare (e.g., doctor’s offices, veterinarian)
• Real estate
• Accommodation & food services (e.g., restaurants, hotels)
• Personal Services (e.g., dry cleaning, hair salon, funeral homes)

We will also conduct interviews with select SMBs in major verticals as well as business communications service providers as part of this research. The results will deliver a comprehensive understanding of the SMB business communications market opportunity as well as future requirements of this market.

Early subscriber discounts are available until August 3, 2009. Clients that sign up early will have an opportunity to provide input on the survey prior to launch. For more information contact Jennifer Skerrett at +1 ext. 111 or e-mail .

InfoTrends, a Questex company, is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends is available on the Web at www.infotrends.com.

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