SMEs Thrive Amid Pandemic Through Rapid Digitisation and Increased Investments

Sme's Thrive Amid Pandemic

SMEs Thrive Amid Pandemic Through Rapid Digitisation and Increased Investments

In the early stages of the pandemic, a surprising number of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) experienced growth. This was largely due to their quick adaptation to digitisation, which led to an increase in business volume. Research indicates that on average, businesses are still experiencing year-on-year growth, with the successful integration of technology playing a significant role in this success.

According to Pipedrive’s customer research, The State of Sales and Marketing, SMEs have managed to maintain their operations and a positive outlook despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. A striking 80 per cent of professionals surveyed expressed optimism about their business prospects.

Interestingly, SMEs have managed to transform their positivity into sustained results. While 63% of respondents reported that their companies experienced more growth in 2022 than in 2021, this figure represents a decrease from the 71% growth rate reported the previous year. This decline can be attributed to the increase in sales when mandatory lockdowns were lifted.

It’s clear from the data that smaller companies were more affected, with a correlation observed between the size of a company and the success of its employees. Decisions to cut budgets or workforce had a negative impact on future growth and employee confidence. Employees who experienced budget cuts or team reductions expressed concern about their future and that of their employers.

The importance of providing the right support to employees cannot be overstated. Employees who received support from colleagues and managers were 20% more likely to achieve their sales targets. A positive work culture and effective people processes significantly contribute to a company’s bottom line, leading to improved business outcomes.

Despite the economic recession last year, salespeople continued to perform well. An impressive 86 per cent regularly met their sales quotas, with 60 per cent achieving their personal annual sales targets. This figure is only 4 percentage points lower than the previous year and higher than in 2020.

The impact on smaller businesses was more pronounced, affecting both employee performance and company growth. Employees in companies with fewer than 11 employees were 14 percentage points less likely to achieve their personal annual sales targets and 10 percentage points less likely to see their company’s revenue grow compared to larger companies.

In response to these challenges, businesses were six times more likely to increase their investment in technology than to reduce it. Only 5 per cent of businesses cut back on tech investments, while 32 per cent increased their tech spending. Investments in technology were primarily aimed at improving efficiency and managing increasing workloads.

Employees at companies that did not invest in technology were twice as likely to be concerned about their workload. This concern is likely to increase with the advent of GenAI tools. Without access to these labour-saving solutions, employees risk losing productivity and morale as they struggle with outdated tasks while their industry evolves around them.

However, there is a silver lining. Numerous SaaS tools are readily available and require no integration or training to use. A YouGov survey for Barclays supports this, revealing that UK SMEs are dedicating 48% of their revenue to technology in an effort to future-proof their businesses (44%) and boost productivity (45%).

Certain sectors are leading the charge in digitalisation and emerging AI technologies, understanding that these will separate the successful from the unsuccessful. Pipedrive’s report reveals that 93 per cent of retailers recognise the importance of data for future success. In the past year, retailers have invested heavily in advanced technologies such as data analytics (18%) and artificial intelligence and machine learning (12%).

SMEs that invest in technology with a clear purpose are creating options for themselves. They are positioning their businesses to adapt to whatever comes their way. As recent history has shown, being prepared for the unexpected and flexible enough to adapt is crucial for growth.

In this digital age, choosing the best standing desk or an electric height adjustable standing desk for your workspace can enhance productivity and promote health benefits. An electric stand-up desk can be a game-changer, especially for those working from home. Similarly, a TV lift can add a touch of modernity and convenience to your office or home setup.

author avatar
Guy Director
Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Ergomotion Director since 2005.

Google Reviews

Ergomotion

Google Reviews

Shelley Jensen 07/09/24

Google
Guy (the owner) delivered the desk and set it up quickly. He then gave me a lesson on how to use it and how to get the most out of it. Arrived on time and was absolutely lovely to deal with throughout the whole process. Highly recommend.

clifford sneider 06/09/24

Google
Guy was fantastic and the desk is amazing

Jo Manning 08/08/24

Google
I bought an adjustable desk from Guy a couple of years ago, got great service and good price. Recently we had a tiny issue which could not be fixed over the phone. Guy was more than happy to come out and look at it 2 days later. All fixed! I really appreciated his patience with me and accommodating us so quickly. Great old fashioned service and piece of mind. I love it. I know where to get my second desk when needed. Thank you Guy. Jo Manning

Deborah Hunt 25/07/24

Google
ergomotion were fantastic to deal with. excellent customer service and a great product.

Andrew Pieterse 14/06/24

Google
Great service and really quick shipping. It is great to know that you are getting quality parts from a Scandinavian manufacturer with your standing desk purchase rather than the cheap knock off stuff you get from other major brands. Reasonably priced for the quality too!

Janette Clarke 20/05/24

Google
Guy was very accommodating with meeting him at a time that suited me. He assembled the desk prior to me collecting so I only had to carry it inside with help (it's pretty heavy). The desk is great, the storage racks underneath with the 6 x built in powerpoints was worth the extra money. I have a functioning & tidy workplace.
Guy was brilliant, I highly recommend.
Janette

Nickel 10/05/24

Google
Have now purchased 2 stand up office desks off Guy, benchmark sales service from him, all via email, so easy; from quote to plug in, only matched by the strong quality of these machines, solid and stable. If only everything in life was this easy and reliable.

Jennifer Fadriquela 23/03/24

Google
I purchased an EDesk this month from Ergomotion, and it was a remarkably smooth transaction. Guy was eager to answer all my questions before my purchase. As a first-time buyer of a standing desk, I truly appreciated how he addressed my queries with thorough details and provided options within my budget.

The delivery process was also smooth, despite a slight delay in the ETA. Guy ensured I received all necessary updates from the courier/removalist.

I've been using the desk for a couple of weeks now and I'm satisfied with it. It's sturdy on all height adjustments and the motor works as expected. I also like oak finish because it's clean-looking and suits my room setup.

Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and I'll definitely recommend Ergomotion to someone looking for their desk needs.

Josh Oliver 04/02/24

Google
I've had an ergomotion desk for 10 years. It's still as good today as it was brand new. Over the years Guy has always responded promptly to any guidance I've needed (mostly help putting the desk back together after removalists take it apart).

Michael Cheung 18/01/24

Google
Great service from Guy and the team at Ergomotion! Helped with all my queries and was able to source a standing desk part for me when many others weren't able! Highly recommend!
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