Influence of ICT Integration and Software Innovation on SME Growth

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play critical roles in the development of the economy and in some cases, the growth of these enterprises is limited by the poor adoption of technology as well as poor innovation potential. The conception and background of this research is based on the existing gap in the literature on the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration and software innovation in the SME growth especially in operational efficiency, market expansion, and competitiveness. The main aim of this study is to explore conceptually the effects of ICT integration and software innovation on SME growth in the light of certain research questions that will deal with the operation, technological and organizational issues that influence the adoption and use. The study is based on secondary data sources, such as scholarly journals, books, industry reports, newspapers, and historical accounts, based on which one will synthesize the already existing knowledge and distinguish the trends due to the use of the conceptual research methodology. Analysis has indicated that ICT integration is effective in boosting internal processes, aiding in decision making and reaching the markets unlike software innovation that enables products and services offered, efficiency in operation, and competitive advantage. The integrated use of software innovation and ICT is important to sustainable growth of SME. The recommendations focus on strategic ICT adoption, software development cycle, capacity building, and enabling policy platform to bridge the technology and organizational barriers. The research finds that the strategic use of ICT and software innovations can hugely speed up the performance of SMEs, their competitiveness, and long-term sustainability.