Siemens Financial Services survey shows finance availability is fuelling technology investment growth in European medium-sized companies Finance availability is boosting technology investment by European medium-sized companies, says the latest output from Siemens Financial Services‚ ongoing research.
The latest phase of this research programme, completed in March 2005, reveals that technology finance is readily available for these mid-sized companies and is boosting technology uptake, across IT, business equipment, plant and vehicles, fuelling recovery growth. Leasing is currently the most favoured financing method for technology investment across Europe, but especially in France.
Although technology finance availability lags somewhat in Germany compared to the UK and France, all countries are showing positive signs in this important proxy for general economic recovery. Financial options, whilst strong overall, have further penetration potential, especially for software and production equipment (plant).
In short, finance is readily available, but not primarily through traditional banking lines of credit. Lease and lease-loan packages are helping mid-sized companies escape the bank credit squeeze on unsecured lending by accessing non-bank finance. The overwhelming majority of medium-sized firms in Europe and the US see technology investment as critical to improving their competitive position and accelerating growth, despite a small proportion of companies that do not see technology as a competitive advantage.