Digital capabilities are central to corporate strategy and productivity

Greater willingness to invest in expanding digital skills, associated increase in productivity and the opinion that the state should also provide support. The "We Power The Nation" study surveyed Swiss companies on digital capabilities.

Digital competencies a central component of corporate strategy

More than two-thirds (70%) of the Swiss companies surveyed expect to invest in digital skills. This puts Switzerland ahead of its neighbors France (64%) and Germany (66%). Investment in training the digital skills of employees (59%) is at the forefront, followed by investment in digital resources (56%).

40 percent of companies cite the fact that digital skills are of central importance to their business strategy as the main reason for this investment behavior. Securing a competitive advantage follows in second place with 37 percent.

The roughly 25 percent of companies surveyed that are not likely to invest in digital capabilities during the next twelve months cite a lack of pressure from customers as the main reason (32%). A comparably high proportion state that investing in digital capabilities is not a priority in the short term (31%).

Increase in productivity as the main benefit

Regardless of whether or not they plan to invest in digital skills in the next year, all companies were asked about the clearest benefits of investing in digital skills. Respondents see the greatest positive impact in the form of increased productivity (41%), more flexible working (40%) and better customer service (34%). Productivity increases in particular are mentioned especially frequently by large companies (46%).

Leverage cloud computing for higher productivity

In this context, cloud applications enable more flexible adjustments to constantly changing market and customer requirements. At the same time, they can be used to strengthen digital competencies by bringing information together more efficiently and helping to break down data silos. However, Sage's survey showed that only 30 percent of the Swiss companies surveyed use cloud applications for administrative tasks such as wages, accounting and HR.

"The willingness to invest in digital skills shows that Swiss companies have recognized the scope of digitization," says Tobias Ackermann, Country Manager Switzerland at Sage. "I see this as a very positive development, because it is precisely these skills that play a decisive role in the future viability of companies. At the same time, however, it is clear that SMEs still have some catching up to do when it comes to using cloud applications. They need sustainable corporate strategies. This also involves deciding whether to invest in their own cloud infrastructure or to rent it and outsource operational responsibility."

Europe-wide strongest desire for funding for trainees
With regard to the question of how the state can support companies in building digital knowledge, 35 percent of Swiss companies would like access to free training, followed by tax breaks (32%) and access to funding for learners or apprenticeships (32%).

The desire for government support for learners stands out most strongly in Switzerland compared to all the European markets surveyed, significantly more strongly than in its immediate neighbors France (19%) and Germany (20%), for example.