Size, a lack of knowledge of how to export and questions about their ability to support products for overseas customers are some of the barriers facing Canterbury software makers when it comes to selling overseas, a report has found.
The report, compiled by Canterbury Development Corporation ICT projects leader James Saruchera, was commissioned by Canterbury Software, a local industry cluster.
The full report will be released at a Canterbury Software function later this month, but Saruchera told Computerworld there are "a number of factors" holding back the region's software makers from being successful exporters.
Size is one, he says, and with New Zealand being mainly a country of small-to-medium sized businesses, companies whose sales are mainly local "aren't prepared enough to put that same product in front of large companies around the world".
There are issues with how big global companies perceive the level of support they'd get from a small NZ software maker and "the size of the company itself" could be another area where perceptions could prevent a deal being done.
The small size of companies often means they don't have the resources to fully research potential export markets, Saruchera says.
Sixty percent of Canterbury's software firms export to some degree and 90% employ less than 10 staff, he says.
The Canterbury Software export-focused summit will be held on October 20 at 200 Armagh St, Christchurch from 12.45 to 5.40pm, followed by a drinks and networking session.