RELEVANCE OF MOBILE PHONE USE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Abstract

The focuses on the relevance of mobile phone use in the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Objectively, the study was out to examine Mobile Phone Uses Relevant to SMEs, Financial services that can be accessed through the use of mobile phones and areas to Improve to Enhance Mobile Phone Use by SMEs. A survey research design of SMEs offering financial services within Bugembe, Uganda was used for the purpose of the research. One hundred and fifty respondents from eighty SMEs were selected as sample elements through a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through questionnaires and was analysed using mean. The research identified that five major uses of mobile phones including making voice calls, SMS/MMS, money transfer services, internet banking and mobile banking and a range of mobile banking services were identified including balance inquiry, cash deposit, cash withdrawal, airtime purchase, paying bills, money transfer and accessing account statements. The research also found that providing necessary facilities and support for the various mobile phone services was critical to enhance their use in the SMEs. It was therefore recommended that SMEs should provide sufficient necessary support facilities for the services.