The SAP Business Partnership Study shows that three out of four small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) see IT and technology vendors not just as an external resource but as vital to their business.

More and more technology vendors are being used by business leaders for consultation (76 percent), for insight and advice (79 percent) and to anticipate needs and risks (76 percent).

The study, which polled 300 SMEs in the United States and 300 in Germany, explored the emotional and intellectual factors that drive these partnerships. The traits were similar to what one would expect in a personal relationship: more than three-fourths (80 percent) of business leaders surveyed said trust and cultural fit were significantly more important than cost savings. Cybersecurity is viewed as very critical in sustaining their day-to-day business, according to three-quarters of IT decisions makers. Almost three-quarters of respondents also noted that financial growth, financial stability and workforce staffing were critical in sustaining their day-to-day business.