世界经济论坛-冠状病毒疾病与中小企业技术引进：影响与出路（英）-2021.12-24页_2mb

Summary of "COVID-19 and Technology Adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: The Impact and the Way Forward"

Core Content

This white paper explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and their adoption of digital technology. It also provides policy recommendations to support SMEs in overcoming the barriers to digital transformation, particularly in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0).

Main Findings

• SMEs are critical to the global economy, representing over 90% of all companies and creating 7 out of 10 jobs.
• Digital technology adoption is lagging among SMEs, with large enterprises being six times more likely to use IoT.
• The pandemic has disrupted SME supply chains, causing issues with procurement, delivery, and logistics. This has led to reduced production capacity, redundancies, and a 40% reduction in business activities for some SMEs.
• Remote work has become a key business transformation due to the pandemic, increasing IT infrastructure demands and the need for real-time decision-making.
• Interest in digital technologies among SMEs has grown significantly since 2019, with IoT, big data, cloud computing, AI, and virtual/augmented reality being the most sought-after technologies.
• Use cases such as process optimization, human safety, quality management, employee training, and data accessibility have gained more attention from SMEs.
• Despite increased awareness, many SMEs have suspended or postponed digitalization plans due to financial constraints, lack of skilled labor, inadequate infrastructure, and limited executive support.

Key Challenges

The study identified five main challenges that hinder SMEs from adopting digital technology:

1. People and Capabilities: Lack of awareness and training among SME employees and managers.
2. Funding: Inadequate access to financing and unclear ROI calculations.
3. Processes and Infrastructure: Difficulty in implementing and maintaining digital systems, including limited internet access and data center availability.
4. Technology Readiness: Insufficient knowledge of how to experiment with digital solutions and a lack of industry standards.
5. Strategy and Ecosystem: Need for a clear digital strategy and collaboration across the value chain.

Policy Recommendations

The report recommends the following policy interventions to support SMEs in digital adoption:

1. Raising Awareness

   • Use Fourth Industrial Revolution maturity assessment tools to help SMEs evaluate their current level of digitalization.
   • Develop demo factories and lighthouses to showcase the value of digital technologies.
   • Create a use case catalogue that includes tried-and-tested applications of digital and emerging technologies.
   • Utilize online platforms to share best practices, success stories, and funding information.

2. Expert Support and Upskilling

   • Implement workforce training programs to prepare employees for digital integration.
   • Provide management training to help leaders understand ROI and digital partnership management.
   • Offer open-source tools such as maturity assessment tools and implementation roadmaps.
   • Deliver direct advisory services to assist SMEs in navigating digital transformation and cybersecurity.

3. Financial Support

   • Provide funding for proof-of-concept or pilot projects.
   • Offer financial support for external expert services.
   • Support workforce training with grants or subsidies.
   • Assist with digital implementation through targeted financial instruments.

4. Collaborative Environment

   • Foster online communities and conducive environments for knowledge sharing.
   • Encourage collaboration across the value chain to address common challenges and leverage competitive advantages.
   • Promote shared learning experiences and joint problem-solving to reduce the risks and costs of digital adoption.

Conclusion

The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in SMEs, highlighting the urgent need for digital integration. However, barriers remain, and policy support is crucial to ensure SMEs can fully embrace digital technologies. By addressing these challenges, SMEs can unlock productivity, profitability, and competitiveness, benefiting not only the businesses themselves but also the broader economy and society.

Key Information

• SMEs are more interested in digital technologies such as IoT, big data, cloud computing, AI, and virtual/augmented reality.
• 40% of SMEs ceased operations during the pandemic, leading to redundancies and reduced working hours.
• 38% of SMEs and 29% of large enterprises understand the importance of IoT but lack clear investment plans.
• Financial constraints are the most common barrier to digital adoption, with limited access to financing and unclear ROI.
• Skill gaps in areas like big data analytics and IT management hinder digital transformation.
• Infrastructure issues such as slow internet and lack of data centers are significant obstacles, especially in rural areas.
• Lack of executive support and limited government assistance further delay digital adoption.
• Policy tools like maturity assessments, training programs, financial incentives, and collaborative platforms are essential to overcoming these challenges.

Figure Highlights

• Figure 1: Most SMEs are at low to moderate technological maturity.
• Figure 2: Supply chain disruptions had a medium to high impact on SMEs.
• Figure 3: Remote work became the most significant change in business operations.
• Figure 4: Interest in IoT, cloud, big data, and AI increased significantly from 2019 to 2021.
• Figure 5: Process optimization, safety, quality, training, and data accessibility were the top use cases.
• Figure 6: 38% of SMEs and 29% of large enterprises had no clear digital investment plans.
• Figure 7: Financial constraints, lack of skilled labor, and infrastructure were the main barriers.
• Figure 8: SMEs and large enterprises face similar challenges but have different priorities.
• Figure 9: Tax incentives, grants, subsidies, employment support, and debt financing are the most preferred forms of state support.

Final Note

The World Economic Forum, in partnership with various stakeholders, has developed a Policy Protocol to support SME digital adoption. This study complements the protocol and provides further insights into the impact of the pandemic and the barriers to digitalization. A collaborative effort between public and private sectors is necessary to ensure SMEs can fully benefit from digital transformation.