A new report has revealed that SMEs are employing shared services and outsourced specialist support, as businesses seek to revamp their service offering.

The report carried out by logistic providers CitySprint found that 65 percent of UK SMEs had been forced to overhaul there work practices, in order to adapt to current economic pressures.

The report also detailed that SMEs had become more open to collaborating and sharing services, and that 1 in 8 would even work with competitors to gain business benefits.

Alongside a more open attitude to shared services, SMEs were also found to be taking advantage of outsourcing services, moving to a ‘size zero’ business model, with a focus on the businesses core strengths.

By moving to a core business focus SMEs have been able to adapt to economic pressures, with 400,000 new jobs coming from SME expansion in 2013.

The full report can be accessed here.

Collaborate UK