IT budgets wasted on software that fails to meet users' expectations

Information workers left frustrated with software in which they've had little purchasing influence.

LONDON, UK – 4th October 2011 – Companies are wasting their IT budgets on systems that don't meet users' expectations, a recent survey commissioned by FileMaker International has found. 67% of information workers surveyed said their database systems do not fully meet their expectations and 58% said that if an IT system is running slow or is too complicated to use, they will find another way of completing the task.

Highlighting how a poor purchasing choice can have a negative impact on productivity – a quarter (24%) admitted that they feel de-motivated when their systems fail to operate and 80% are left feeling frustrated.

The FileMaker Database Technology Report uncovers a severe lack of communication and understanding between IT departments and Information workers. Only 24% of information workers say themselves or a colleague has purchasing control over their organisation's database system – compared to 58% of IT departments. Interestingly, nearly half the people surveyed (47%) agreed that the technology they use to manage information in their personal lives is more effective than the technology they use to manage information at work.

Other highlights include:

• A quarter (25%) agree that databases in their organisation are underused because they are complicated to manage
• 61% agree that the slower a database runs or the more complicated it is to use, the more reluctant they are to try and access that information again
• 32% agree that data in their organisation is probably unreliable because the systems they use are not integrated
• Database failure seriously impacts two thirds (65%) of businesses and in some cases (8%), very seriously

Tony Speakman, director, FileMaker northern region said: "There is a worryingly large percentage of companies out there wasting IT budgets on software that is not the right solution for their users. Budgets are still being influenced by decisions makers in IT departments, rather than the users themselves, which is having a negative impact upon productivity. Our research shows that information workers are becoming 'IT Gurus' and businesses need to understand that it's not just IT departments that understand IT.

"In today's financial climate, every pound spent in an organisation should maximise profitability – not reduce it."

About the research

The FileMaker Database Technology Report was commissioned by FileMaker International and investigates the thoughts and needs of Information Workers across five different vertical sectors of the UK (Education, Government, Health, Creative, Finance. Research for this report was conducted in August 2011 by Loudhouse, an independent research and consultancy firm based in London. Respondents were Information workers within 400 small to midsize UK businesses.

Download the report »

About FileMaker, Inc.

FileMaker is the leader in easy-to-use database software. Millions of people, from individuals to some of the world's largest companies, rely on FileMaker software to manage, analyse and share important information. The company's products are the FileMaker line - versatile business software for iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac and the web - and Bento, the personal database for Mac, iPhone and iPad. FileMaker, Inc. is a subsidiary of Apple.

Media Contact:

Kirstin Beveridge
kirstin@octopuscomms.net
+44 (0) 845 3700 655