One-third of companies still have not rebuilt their turnover from before the pandemic, and one in five is not prepared for the next lockdown, according to the “SME Scanner” study commissioned by BIG InfoMonitor.
In the case of companies that managed to rebuild their turnover to the level before the emergence of COVID-19, the decisive factor was primarily the care for employees and maintaining employment even in the most crisis moments (33.3%). The next place was the increase in demand for goods and services (24.3%), and the third place was the maintenance of competitive prices (18%). The key also turned out to be the lack of problems with the supply chain (12.2%), the use of state aid and care for financial liquidity and timely collection of receivables (10.6 and 9.5%, respectively), it was reported.
“Currently, 38% of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises report that they are doing the same or even better than before the pandemic, although they were exposed to its unpleasant consequences. % did not restore sales before COVID-19 and further difficulties may worsen the situation,” said Sławomir Grzelczak, president of BIG InfoMonitor.
The confrontation with the lockdown is, according to 36% of entrepreneurs, a challenge that cannot be prepared for, 30% believe that it depends on various factors, and those who say that it is possible are the least, because 28% of the respondents also stated.
These are the answers on a general level, because when you ask how the enterprises represented by the respondents manage to do it, the answers are already more optimistic. Almost 7 out of 10 (68%) representatives of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises assess the preparation of their company in the event of another lockdown, as good, of which over 16% even describe it as ‘definitely good’, but 22% admit that they are not prepared for such a situation. this next challenge, it was announced in the report.
It perceives its possibilities best in the face of new restrictions – trade (77% declaring preparation), and the worst – transport (53%). At the same time, representatives of transport and construction most often say that there is simply no patent for a painless transition to the next lockdown, and therefore they are unprepared (29%).
“The scale of the business is of great importance for adaptation in the conditions of a pandemic lasting more than 1.5 years. The larger the company, the higher the resistance to lockdown. In the group of entities employing up to 9 employees resistant to lockdown, 62% of respondents have, among those employing 10 up to 49 people – 70%, and in medium-sized companies with a crew of up to 249 employees, as much as 77% of the respondents,” said Grzelczak.
Survey carried out as part of the “SME Scanner” project, by the Keralla Research Institute, conducted quarterly among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Sample = 500, technique: telephone interviews, deadline: October 2021.
Source: BIG InfoMonitor and IBSnews
