New HP Report Highlights That India's Smbs Could Unlock $18B A Year, But Legacy Tech Holding Them Back

(MENAFN- ForPressRelease) New Delhi, 18 March 2026 - Small and medium businesses (SMBs) could unlock up to $18 billion in annual productivity gains by modernizing print workflows and adopting secure, and connected systems. However, many SMBs in India are currently losing significant productivity due to outdated systems, inefficient document workflows, and overlooked print security risks, according to HP Inc.'s latest report, The Workflow Wakeup: How Unexpected Tech Can Help Future-Proof Small and Medium Businesses – India Findings. Based on extensive global research, the Report highlights how these inefficiencies drain budgets, slow operations, and contribute to employee burnout.

"MSMEs contribute nearly 30% of India's GDP and are central to the country's economy. As India continues to digitize, helping these businesses adopt smarter technologies in their everyday operations must remain a priority so they can fully participate in the country's growth story. Strengthening their technology foundations will help them operate more productively, compete at scale, and accelerate India's journey toward becoming a globally competitive digital economy," said Ipsita Dasgupta, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, HP India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

SMBs Are Working Harder - But Not Smarter

India's SMBs are operating under growing strain. Nearly half (49%) of IT leaders say their teams are constantly "putting out fires" caused by legacy systems, limiting their ability to focus on modernization and strategic initiatives. At the same time, 52% of IT leaders and 61% of business leaders report that they are working harder rather than more efficiently, underscoring how operational friction is constraining growth. Manual processes continue to slow productivity. 62% of knowledge workers in Indian SMBs say they spend too much time on tasks that could be automated. Meanwhile, 58% of IT leaders report that print-related issues consume more support time than they should - diverting resources from higher-value work.

"This report highlights that the real challenge for SMBs isn't just outdated hardware - it's the everyday workflow friction that slows teams down," added Satish Kumar, Senior Director, Print Category, HP India. "Many SMBs are still managing manual processes, driver issues, and disconnected systems that pull IT teams into constant troubleshooting. When printing is integrated into smart, AI-enabled workflows, it stops being a burden and starts driving efficiency. It streamlines operations, strengthens data protection, and gives leaders the visibility and control they need to grow."

Smart Print Delivers, But Most SMBs Haven't Made the Shift Yet

While challenges persist, the report also shows strong momentum toward smarter solutions in India. 84% of IT leaders say smart printing reduces strain on IT teams, freeing them to focus on strategic priorities, while 90% of business leaders report strong return on investment from smart print solutions.


About the Data/ Methodology

Edelman DXI, a global, multidisciplinary research, analytics and data consultancy, conducted a 10-minute online survey among employees at small and medium-sized businesses (organizations with 50-999 employees) on behalf of HP. The survey was conducted in four global markets (United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and India) among a total of 4,000 respondents, fielded August 5-27, 2025. All audiences consisted of respondents aged 18 and older employed in a desk-based job; respondents were required to work with printed or digital documents frequently. For consistency, all respondents were provided with a definition of smart printing to ensure clarity. For more information, see markets: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and India. Respondents included:

* Knowledge workers (n = 2,400, 600 per market) are primarily desk-based/knowledge workers (including hybrid and remote) who work at small and medium-sized businesses.
* IT leaders (n = 800, 200 per market) are decision-makers in IT who have the ability to either specify, recommend, or approve what computers and/or printers their organization uses.
* Business leaders (n = 800, 200 per market) are business decision-makers who self-identify as Business Owners, Directors, Senior Leaders, VPs, CFOs, CEOs, General Managers, etc.; and have primary decision-making influence over broader decisions involving technology, business goals, operational processes, strategy, and/or organizational structure.

About HP

HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) is a global technology leader redefining the Future of Work. Operating in more than 180 countries, HP delivers innovative and AI-powered devices, software, services and subscriptions that drive business growth and professional fulfillment.

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