Integration of ICT in the administrative management of small commercial enterprises

The research sought to integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) into the administrative management of small commercial businesses in the city of Guayaquil, in 2022. Based on the "Buenrostro model", the following categories of analysis were established to guide the study: 1) socioeconomic characteristics of the entrepreneurs, 2) basic ICT equipment, 3) use of ICT in the company's activities, and 4) difficulties in using ICT. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, and prospective methodology was applied based on a solely qualitative approach. The problem faced by small business owners is the lack of efficiency in processes and difficulty in accessing relevant information. The objective of the research is to describe the characteristics of the integration of ICT in the Administrative management of small commercial businesses. The study population consisted of 10 owners of small commercial businesses located in the city of Guayaquil, intentionally selected under certain inclusion criteria. Open-ended interviews and a non-participatory observation guide were used as data collection techniques. The results obtained contributed to a state-of-the-art analysis of the phenomenon analyzed for broader and more in-depth studies. Given that there are limited background information or studies on the integration of ICTs at the local level, and even more so in the business sector, it is evident that entrepreneurs are not receiving support from state institutions.