澳洲会计师公会-2018年亚太区小型企业调研报告（英文）-2019.4-123页_3mb

CPA Australia Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey 2018 Summary

Core Content

The CPA Australia Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey 2018 is the tenth annual report analyzing small business conditions, confidence, growth drivers, technology adoption, innovation, exporting, and access to finance across ten economies in the Asia-Pacific region. The survey collected responses from 3607 small businesses, with the largest number of participants from Mainland China (764), followed by Australia (505), Singapore (303), Vietnam (309), and Malaysia (304).

The report compares data across the ten markets and over time, highlighting trends and differences in business behavior and sentiment.

Main Findings

Major Finding 1: Small business conditions in 2018 were down in most markets

• Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Mainland China had the highest growth rates in 2018.
• Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore had the lowest growth rates.
• Singapore saw a strong increase in growth, while Malaysia had a slight increase. All other markets reported a decline in growth.

Major Finding 2: Small business confidence declines in most markets in 2019

• Confidence in 2019 was highest in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, and lowest in Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
• Hong Kong experienced the largest drop in confidence, while Malaysia saw a significant rise.
• Global trade tensions are cited as the main reason for the decline in confidence.

Major Finding 3: There is a significant link between growth activities and strong business growth

• Growing businesses are more likely to:
  • Focus on technology
  • Improve customer satisfaction
  • Innovate through new products, services, or processes
  • Enter new markets
  • Use social media for customer engagement
  • Increase employee numbers
  • Use online sales and digital payment technologies
• Asia (Mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam) is more likely to engage in these growth activities than Australia and New Zealand.
• Asia also has a higher demand for external finance, though Australia and New Zealand businesses are more likely to find finance accessible.

Major Finding 4: Younger respondents are more likely to be growing businesses

• Respondents under 40 are more likely to:
  • Report business growth
  • Create jobs
  • Focus on innovation, technology, and exporting
• Younger respondents are also more likely to:
  • Use social media for sales and customer insights
  • Invest in technology to improve profitability
  • Expect cyberattacks and review cybersecurity measures
• Customer loyalty is a more significant driver for older respondents.

Major Finding 5: Many small businesses expect a trade war to have a negative impact

• Over a third of small businesses across the Asia-Pacific expect a trade war to negatively impact their business in 2019.
• Hong Kong small businesses are most likely to expect a negative impact, while New Zealand businesses are least likely.
• Mainland China businesses are more likely to expect a positive impact due to export policies and market expansion initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative.
• Shenzhen is the only city in Mainland China where more businesses expect a positive impact from a trade war than a negative one.

Major Finding 6: Majority of small businesses believe a cyberattack in 2019 is unlikely

• Vietnam and Indonesia businesses are most likely to expect a cyberattack in 2019.
• Australia and New Zealand businesses are least likely to expect an attack.
• More than half of businesses have taken action to review cybersecurity in the past six months, which is higher than the percentage expecting an attack.
• However, in Indonesia and Malaysia, concerns over cyberattacks do not always translate into action.

Major Finding 7: Cybersecurity is a key concern for growing businesses

• Growing businesses are more likely to:
  • Expect a cyberattack
  • Review their cybersecurity measures
• Factors influencing this behavior include:
  • Having 10–19 staff
  • Being under 40
  • Growing strongly in 2018 and expecting growth in 2019
  • Increasing staff numbers
  • Using social media
  • Generating over 10% revenue from online sales
  • Expecting export growth
  • Planning to introduce new products or services

Key Highlights

• Technology adoption is strongly linked to business growth.
• Asia-Pacific small businesses are more likely to use online sales and digital payment methods than Australia and New Zealand.
• Younger entrepreneurs are more tech-savvy and more likely to engage in growth activities.
• Global trade tensions are a major concern for small businesses, especially in Hong Kong.
• Cybersecurity is increasingly important, with many businesses taking steps to protect themselves.
• Mainland China leads in e-commerce and digital payments.
• Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are the most dynamic markets for small business growth.
• Access to finance is a key differentiator, with Asia businesses more likely to seek external finance, though Australia and New Zealand businesses find it easier to access.

Summary Table of Key Differences

Conclusion

The 2018 survey highlights the divergence in small business performance and confidence across the Asia-Pacific region. Asia continues to lead in technology adoption, innovation, and exporting, while Australia and New Zealand lag in these areas. Younger entrepreneurs are more likely to drive growth and innovation, and cybersecurity is becoming a critical concern. Global trade tensions are a key factor affecting confidence, especially in Hong Kong, but Mainland China businesses are more optimistic due to policy support. Overall, the survey underscores the importance of technology, innovation, and strategic growth for small businesses in the region.