Title: Low-cost Internet of Things digital technology adoption in SMEs

Authors: Michael Quigley; Maria Burke

Addresses: Salford Business School, Maxwell Building, University of Salford, The Crescent, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WT, UK ' Salford Business School, Maxwell Building, University of Salford, The Crescent, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WT, UK

Abstract: This paper presents the findings of two related case studies into the potential beneficial uses of low-cost digital technology on estate agent property listings. The adoption of the technology is not hindered by the availability of resources, but by lack of knowledge and training held by Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). This research helps to illustrate how SMEs could improve their business processes by utilising new digital technology as an effective method for disseminating information to a target audience at the point of request, without significantly increasing costs. Economical benefits can be gained through relatively little training or expense, which may have otherwise hindered the adoption by SMEs. The UK consumer market must be prepared to adopt new practices and utilise the Internet of Things, where all objects can connect to the internet.

Keywords: digital technology; estate agents; Internet of Things; IoT; QR code; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; property listings; technology adoption; organisational knowledge; training; information dissemination.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2013.055828

International Journal of Management Practice, 2013 Vol.6 No.2, pp.153 - 164

Published online: 02 Oct 2013 *

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