Micro and small home-based businesses (HBBs) are likely to spend around $8.5 billion on IT and telecom in 2008, up from over $7 billion spent during 2007.
The average spend by each HBB on IT and telecom in 2007 was $3,636.
According to a recent report by research body AMI Partners, the Home-Based Business (HBBs) sector in India is a vast marketplace of 16.2 million business entities, of which 1.95 million own PCs.
HBBs usually employ 1-4 people and mostly work in sectors such as retail, professional services or manufacturing. Other sectors include finance and real estate services like small insurance agents and brokers. HBBs also work for sectors such as transportation, sanitary services, etc.
According to AMI, IT and telecom spend by HBBs is likely to witness a growth of at least 20 percent year on year as more and more HBBs become technology-savvy and understand the need for cost-effective and accurate customer servicing.
According to Dipendra Mitra, analyst with AMI, "HBBs spending on IT and telecom started picking up only recently. They plan to spend on a wide array of hardware, software and telecom-related products and services ranging from PDAs and smart phones to PCs, printers, software applications, security and storage products and high-speed broadband services. Much of the IT and telecom spend by these HBBs will go into upgradation from the current version being used."
A full-time HBB will work for 30 or more hours per week, while a part-time HBB will work for 10-30 hours per week.
HBBs usually run small retail outlets like boutique shops or other small stores. They are also into professional services and work as brokers, chartered accountants, tax consultant, architect engineer, etc.
Source - Pradipta Mukherjee at Business Standard
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