The software company devised a Microsoft 365 solution which aims to help SMEs with limited resources. Even though the implementation of the software was successful, the potential could not be realized. The company needs comprehensive market research to understand which criteria Swiss SMEs have to invest in digitalization and automatization.

The research focused on qualitative interviews as a form for the primary data source. Some SMEs in key industry segments were interviewed with the goal of finding out the criteria, the risk and challenges, and the hesitation reason of a company. The primary data was backed up with secondary data research trying to give the company a better understanding of the customer's needs.

The conclusion of a Swiss SME research on digitization emphasizes challenges such as limited resources, staff resistance and data security. Additionally Swiss SMEs have concerns about the resistance to change, uncertainity, and a lack of knowledge. Furthermore potential benefits were elaborated such as competitiveness, process improvement, cost reduction and better decision making. An important aspect for the client was the investment criteria which include goal alignment, ROI, ease of use, security, adaptability, integration, cost effectiveness, and company size. From the primary data sources, it appears that company size may well play a role in the decision to invest. This was less emphasized in the secondary literature. Smaller firms must carefully weigh the costs and advantages of digitalization, whereas larger organizations may have more internal departments and resources to manage it. Additionally, smaller firms may have other concerns in their daily business such as build up a customer base which makes them thinking less about investments in digitalization and automatization.