Arab Advisors Group reveals 78 per cent of Jordanian SMEs utilize computers

On the supply side, the analysis encompassed the vendors and operators for technology, Internet and software products in the market. On the demand side, the study included conducting extensive interviews with 247 small and medium enterprises across the major economic sectors in the country in Jordan's four main cities of Amman, Zarqa, Irbid and Aqaba. SMEs were defined as companies employing 5 to 100 people. The sample was randomly selected and proportionately represented the SMEs in the four cities and across the major economic sectors. The economic sectors covered were tourism (restaurants and hotels), trade, finance, insurance, real estate, construction, manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture.

"The Arab Advisors Group surveyed 247 companies in the four cities. This represents a sample size of 4.7% of the working population which allows for less than 8% margin of error with 99% confidence level," Jawad Abbassi, Arab Advisors Group President said.

"The National Fund for Enterprise Support (NAFES) provided the bulk of the funding for the study, which was coordinated by the Information Technology Association of Jordan (int@j). Seven companies and organizations participated in the study and partially financed it. These are Batelco - Jordan, Bidaya Ventures, Global One - Jordan, Jordan Telecom, LINKdotNET, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and Specialized Technical Services (STS). The study demonstrates a very healthy cooperation between different stakeholders in the ICT sector in Jordan to gain a wider understanding of the dynamics of the market. The Arab Advisors Group is very proud to be part of this endeavour," Mr. Abbassi added.

During the study, Arab Advisors Group assessed the supply side and demand side of the ICT products and services amongst Jordanian SMEs through a primary research and survey-based approach. The Arab Advisors team provided a comprehensive report on the ICT products and services available in the Jordanian market as well as the level of usage of these products and services by the SMEs in Jordan.

The full results of the study (a 40-pages report with over 90 exhibits) can be collected from int@j for a nominal fee. The study covers major aspects of ICT adoption in Jordan and is based on a comprehensive 12 pages questionnaire that was filled through painstaking face to face interviews with the SMEs.

"Analysing the survey results shows that there is a somewhat big disparity between businesses in Amman and those outside Amman in terms of their technology adoption", Mr. Sami Sunna, Arab Advisors Group senior analyst said..

The study shows that 22.3% of Jordanian SMEs did not have Personal Computers (PCs). Of the companies that have PCs, 51.6% have a LAN set up in the office.

"The Information Technology Association of Jordan (int@j) is very pleased to have been able to facilitate and organize such a detailed and scientific study". Mr. Raed Bilbessi, int@j's CEO said. "Int@J provided the umbrella under which seven organizations participated in the study. I would like to thank NAFES for their support and major financial contribution to the study. The results of the study will help all ICT companies in Jordan to understand the state of ICT adoption by Jordanian SMEs." Mr. Bilbessi added.

"NAFES aims at enhancing the competitiveness and profitability of Jordanian SMEs." Mr. Abdul Raouf Taher, NAFES Manager said. "We are confident that this NAFES funded project will help SMEs and those companies that serve SMEs enhance ICT adoption in the kingdom which would make Jordanian SME's better equipped for an increasingly more competitive global and regional markets". He added.