INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SALES PERFORMANCE OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the impact of Information Technology (IT) on the sales performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Edo State, Nigeria. Given the critical role of MSMEs in an economy, understanding how IT influences their operational efficiency and sales outcomes is crucial. The research employed a survey research design. Data were collected through questionnaire from a sample of 384 MSME owners, managers and employees across various sectors and business sizes. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess correlations between IT usage and sales performance metrics. Thematic analysis provided insights into the qualitative aspects of IT adoption. Findings indicate a significant positive relationship between IT application and sales performance. The study also identifies challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and high costs as barriers to effective IT implementation in the theoretical analysis. The study suggests that MSMEs should embrace the use of IT as it has great potentials in enhancing their performance. This research contributes to the understanding of IT's role in small business growth and offers recommendations for policymakers and business owners to leverage technology on IT in order to enhance the performance of the economy.