The Impact of Digital Technology on Business Activity of SMEs

This research proposal investigates the impact of digital technology, particularly mobile technology, on the business activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a case study on Nomtek Limited. The proposal includes an introduction outlining the significance of digital technology in business, especially in building customer relationships. A literature review explores the concept of mobile technology, its importance for SMEs, the challenges of adoption (like security and user experience), and its impact on customer relationships. The methodology section details the qualitative research approach. The proposal outlines objectives to analyze the concept of mobile technology, its importance for Nomtek Limited, identify challenges, and assess its impact on customer relationships. The research questions are also provided. The proposal discusses data analysis, expected findings, recommendations, and reflections. The report will ultimately conclude with a summary of the research and its implications for SMEs. The study aims to contribute insights into how digital technologies can enhance business operations and customer engagement.

Research Proposal

Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................3
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................5
4. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION.........................................................................9
5. FINDINGS.................................................................................................................................18
6. RECOMMENDATION.............................................................................................................18
7. REFLECTION...........................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

TITLE: “The impact of digital technology on business activity of SME’s “
1. INTRODUCTION
Digital technology contains several electronic equipments and applications which
generally use for information in the form of numeric code. In business industry, digital
technology deals with telecommunication, computing, software development, hardware servicing
and so on (Ainin and et. al., 2015). Digital technology involves several aspects as cloud
technology, social media, mobile technology, artificial intelligence and so on. Implementation of
these technologies are based on organisation's size and structure because those consumes time
and cost on the basis of its servicing. By adopting digital technology, an organisation can
implement numerous changes that assist to provide several opportunities for desired growth.
Now a days, the area of Mobile technology has becoming huge because it aid in providing
advance services to business in order to building direct connection with target customers. This
Research is based on Nomtek Ltd which is a small scale business enterprise. The organisation
wants to adopt mobile technology so that they can build positive relation with their clients. On
the basis of these information applications, Nomtek Limited can easily connect, communicate
and collaborate with their services user in order to identifying their need and providing quality
services as well.
Technology has immensely changed the pattern of working by including new concepts
and formations. On the basis of digital technologies, an organisation can make positive changes
in working areas of their employees by transformed the operative culture in firm easily. The
concept of digital technology is not only helpful for employees but also for customers too
because through this, they can directly get connected with the firms by accessing its digital
networks. Mobile technology and Networking is a only area that assist to providing overall
information to customers regarding organisation's products and services. Through these
practices, a firm can build direct connection with their customers by providing them satisfying
services easily. The concept of mobile technology assist to providing instant information to user
with the mode of digital technology. These techniques can be SMS, mail, MMS and so on.
Background of research
The concept of digital technology is vast in which mobile technology is also used in the
terms of communication and other related aspects (McCann and Barlow, 2015). Now a days,
each and every organisation adopt these practices so that they can build direct connection with
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their services users. This report is based on Nomtek Limited which is small scale organisation
and wants to build direct relation with their users. For them, mobile technology might be a most
appropriate tool that aid to update customers with information regarding organisational new
services. This is a cost friendly concept which is uses as a platform where several transmitters
exchanges information at the same time through a single signal. The mobile technology stated a
remarkable achievement in the world of digital technology. Main reason behind this
accomplishment is diverse functionality at the same time. This is a cost effective approach that
assist to providing maximum benefits and made the life of business more easier. For a small
scale organisation, these kind of techniques can be more significant that assist to building long
term relationship with customers for attaining higher benefits and advantages as well.
Rationale of research
Digital technology is most crucial concept that assist to reduce additional cost and time
in a business organisation by conducting advance servicing (Dahnil and et. al., 2014). For this,
business organisations usually implement mobile phones, laptop, computer, hardware and
software servicing and other machineries that assist to operate advance techniques properly for
business operational. Main objective of these activities is to maximise opportunities for a
business to grow positively in target market. By conducting these kind of research, an researcher
can enhance their skills and knowledge criteria in order to implementing digital technology for
future aspects.
Aims and objectives
Research Aim –
To identify the impact of mobile technology in building relationship with potential
customers. A case study on Nomtek Limited.
Research objectives - To analyse the concept of mobile technology. To determine the importance of mobile technology for a Nomtek Limited. To Identify the major challenges faced by Nomtek Limited while adopting mobile
technology. To analyse the major impact of mobile technology on building direct relationship with
customers.
Research questions -
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 What is the concept of mobile technology ? What are the importance of mobile technology for a Nomtek Limited ? Which are the major challenges faced by Nomtek Limited while adopting mobile
technology ?
 How to analyse the major impact of mobile technology on building direct relationship
with customers ?
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is a critical analysis of a topic that incorporate views and opinions of
different authors. The researcher can gather information regarding their topic through published
sources and articles as well. Literature review assist to providing specific knowledge about
particular topic that has been already encountered by an authors on the basis of their
understanding.
The concept of mobile technology
As per the views of James Kendrick, 2013 mobile technology is a most important part of
digital technology which is making communication routine through mobile phones. The
technology that has drive in mobile devices has improved rapidly in order to providing quality
experience to its users. The availability of mobile devices is rapidly spreading throughout the
world because customers are getting new experiences through this. The concept of mobile
technology has been changed from the past few decades. These technologies has improved from
a simple phone calls and messaging to multi-taking techniques that assist to access numerous
informations easily at different places. Now a days, business organisations also adopting mobile
technology in their working practices that assist to transmitting new information rapidly to target
users easily (Hassan, Nadzim and Shiratuddin, 2015). Communication is a one foremost concept
of firm that assist to transmitting information regarding organisation's ability to target customers.
For Nomtek Limited, it can be a beneficial approach that helps to updating customers directly
through mobile technologies. This is a small scale organisation so for them it can encounter
several advantages because this is a cost friendly concept of digital technology. Through this,
employees of Nomtek Limited can provide information to their customers through phone calls,
messages, internet servicing, email as well as numerous application that helps in a detailed
manner on the basis of customer's requirement and need. Navigation through GPS is also a
concept of mobile technology that provide content related to direction and location to its users
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easily. The concept of this technology is very easy than others because it is working on a
wireless concept at desired locations. The mobile is also equipped with internet connectivity to
making things easy for users in order to gain information through networking access.
The importance of mobile technology for a Nomtek Limited
According to Rob Waugh, 2017 mobile technology has changed the concept of business
organisations by providing facilities in marketing and operational approaches of firm. It enabling
employees to get their work done easily from anywhere. On the basis of these servicing, Nomtek
Limited can build direct connection with their services users easily. The term mobile technology
has gain several achievement in the technological world because it provides cost friendly
services to business firm. The importance of mobile technology for Nomtek Limited is determine
below as -
Communicate better – By implementing mobile technology in firm, employees of
Nomtek Limited can communicate directly with their customers in order to providing them
information regarding their products and services. On the basis of these technologies, employees
can analyse issues of customers in order to providing better solution to them (Crane and Matten,
2016). These kind of approaches maximise customer's loyalty toward orgnisation.
Save time and money – Mobile technology is a cost friendly concept which provides
several facilities to firm on lower costs. It also saves time of firm as well as customers by
updating new information in a quick manner. The concept of mobile technology is more
beneficial than others for Nomtek Limited.
Major challenges faced by Nomtek Limited while adopting mobile technology
As per the views of Del Baldo, 2012 Mobile technology is a most suitable concept for a
business organisation that assist to providing cost effective services to customers as well as
organisation at a same time. But the concept of mobile technology encountered numerous
challenges as security, data privacy and so on. Some of the problems are explained below for
better understanding:
Mobile Device limits small screen sizes: Now a days, people didn't like small scale
screen size and the main reason behind this is because of inability of getting a good look of the
product. So, they hesitate to purchase items using a smartphone or through mobile technology.
Other than this, information that are displayed are also not proper because of which customers
may not get the full information regarding the product. Thus, this can create problems for
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customers while purchasing goods and services and because of this, they can move to other
sources for doing the same.
Mobile User Experience: When introducing mobile technology into workflows it is
important that company develop their entire working environment where, they can perform their
activities through mobile technology instead of their regular schedule of doing a job. If Mobile
User experience is not done or enhanced than company can face issues in operating their
business in an effective manner. Thus, it is important for Nomtek Limited to provide good
experience to mobile user.
Mobile Security: For users mobile security is the major concern and to manage this
company can face challenges. Thus, in order to eliminate this problem, it is crucial for Nomtek
Limited, to do appropriate authentication within all mobile channels so that access of all
networks can be controlled at the correct level. Furthermore, management of the company can
have separate user identities for some cases as a result, it will assist firm preventing important
information from getting leaked when customers use their site on personal devices.
Major impact of mobile technology on building direct relationship with customers
According to Nobre and Silva, 2014 Mobile technology is a most appropriate concept
that assist to building direct relationship with customers. Through this employees of Nomtek
Limited can provide information to customers ion the basis of their requirement and need. By
implementing these services, they resolves issues and queries of customers in order to create a
positive image in their mind for their servicing. Mobile technology has concise the world into a
small screen where every customer can get the information about the product and service they
are providing to its consumers. Thus, it has made the bond more strong between company and
customers. Moreover, in order to choices and preferences of consumers, management of the
company is conducting surveys so that client's views and opinion can be recorded. As a result, it
will provide a better view of the requirements of customers related to a product or commodity.
Therefore, with the help of mobile technology company can develop a better relationship and
hence, improved customer's base and value as well. Mobile is the best source of maintaining
relation with different peoples in relation to Nomtek Limited because it have several sources
such as text messages, social media, calls and so on. All these practices result in building healthy
as well as direct relation with customers.
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3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is a theoretical concept that assist to provide information
regarding several techniques that researcher can use while conducting data and information on
specific topic (Atanassova and Clark, 2015). The methods of research assist to provide authentic
information on the basis of topic's requirement. There are different methods of research is
determine below as -
Qualitative research – The method of this research is seeks in-depth knowledge
regarding particular topic. It provides theoretical information to researcher including human
phenomena properly. The ground of these kind of research is based on theoretical data to
determining advantages and disadvantages of specific topic rather than logistic and statistical
informations. This method is easy than quantitative approach because researcher can maintain
documentation by their own regarding theoretical information. It consumes less time and cost for
research than quantitative method. The methods of qualitative research are survey, in-depth
interview, case study research, content analysis and so on. The results of qualitative research are
more descriptive than others.
Quantitative research – This is a structured way of collecting information and data from
several sources. This approach includes computational, mathematical and statistical tools that
assist to providing appropriate result of research. This methods is more exploration because the
data of information in this research is based on verbal and numerical form. These kind of
research methods are normally uses by business organisations in order to represent each and
every aspect in statistical format easily. In general terms researcher uses qualitative methods
because quantitative methods consumes proper time and cost.
Primary method – This is method of research procedure in which researcher gathers
information through primary resources. Primary method of research determine view and opinion
of several individuals. Researcher can opt one specific method between in-depth interviews,
survey, discussions, content analysis and so on. For this, organisation usually takes help of
mediator who design several questions for research analysis. Primary research provides fresh
results to analyst in effective manner.
Secondary method – These kind of research methods are based on secondary sources of
information as magazine, books, articles and so on. This is a easy concept than primary method
because it consumes less time and cost of firm. The area of this method has not been as broad as
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primary method. The employees of an organisation can collect information through these sources
by their own. The criteria of these concept is limited that incorporate a limited information. The
advantage of this research is that it consume less time and cost for data gathering procedure
(Meske and Stieglitz, 2013).
Sampling- In this procedure, emphasized data through random sampling from large
population. On the basis of this, researcher can design several patterns in order to gathering
information from different sampling sources. This research approach encountered random
sampling to analyse view point of individuals. Sample size of this research is 30.
Cost: This is one of the important factor that has to be looked after before starting a
research as this can create problem while executing the action plan in a better manner. For this, a
plan in a systematic manner can be developed so that investigator can have proper knowledge
related to task that is to be performed first.
Research Ethics: While conducting a research there are some ethics which are to be
considered such as keeping the records of clients private so that nobody can misuse the same. It
is the responsibility of researcher because third party can miss-use the data collected for research
purpose. Along with this, if data will be share then respondents have right to sue investigator is
court.
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you know about the concept of mobile technology?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) According to you why mobile technology is important for Nomtek Limited?
a) For improving its sales
b) For maintaining between relationship with customers.
c) Both a and b
Q3) What kind of challenges Nomtek Limited can face while implementing mobile technology?
a) Mobile Device limits small screen sizes
b) Mobile User Experience
c) Mobile Security
Q4) Does mobile technology is assisting Nomtek Limited in maintaining better relationship
with customers?
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a) Yes
b) No
Q5) Does mobile technology is increasing sales and productivity of Nomtek Limited?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q6) Is purchasing goods and products using mobile application is secured?
a) Yes
b) No
Q7) Does mobile technology is providing benefits to the Nomtek Limited and enhancing its
growth rate?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q8) Is mobile technology is increasing customer base for the Nomtek Limited?
a) Yes
b) No
Q9) Any suggestion you want to give in order to enhance performance of Nomtek Limited?
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4. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Discussion
Theme 1: Concept of mobile technology
Q1) Do you know about the concept of mobile technology? Frequency
a) Yes 22
b) No 8
Interpretations: Mobile technology, is one of the integral part of digital technology
which helps in communicating with other individuals and in terms of business with the help of
mobile technology company is providing quality services and facilities. From the above
mentioned graph it can be evaluated that as per 22 respondents out of 30, they have chosen the
option 'Yes', which means these respondents knows about the concept of mobile technology and
its functions as well. Whereas 8 of the respondents, as they have chosen 'No', as their option so
according to their knowledge they are not aware of the concept of mobile technology and its
benefits as well. Thus, respective organisation have to conduct awareness program before
9
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
Column B

launching mobile technology in the market area. So that understanding of product result in
purchasing more products or services.
Theme 2: Mobile technology is important for Nomtek Limited
Q2) According to you why mobile technology is important for
Nomtek Limited?
Frequency
a) For improving its sales 9
b) For maintaining between relationship with customers. 6
c) Both a and b 15
Interpretations: Nomtek Limited are the major source for nation as they contribute a
large amount of money in nation's economy. Hence, for them mobile technology is a boon as this
will assist them in operating their business operations in an effective manner. Therefore, with the
help of graph mentioned above it can be evaluated that as per 9 respondents out of 30
respondents as they are agreeing with the fact and believe that company should implement
mobile technology for improving its sales and productivity. Whereas other 6 of them thinks that
mobile technology can be very beneficial for maintaining a better relationship with customers as
10
a) For improving its sales
b) For maintaining between relationship with customers.
c) Both a and b
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Column B