Last fall, the EBRD (European Bank for Digitalization) published an interesting study on the digitalization of SMEs in Romania. The four most important conclusions based on this report are:

Conclusion 1: The level of digitalization of SMEs in Romania is below the EU average.

• Romania ranks 25th out of 28 EU member states in terms of the degree of digitalization of SMEs.
• Only 16% of SMEs in Romania use advanced digital tools, compared to 34% at EU level.

Conclusion 2: There is a significant discrepancy between large companies and SMEs regarding the adoption of digital technology.

• Large companies in Romania are more digitized than SMEs, with more frequent use of advanced digital tools such as e-commerce, cloud computing, and big data.

Conclusion 3: Lack of digital skills is a major obstacle to SME digitalization.

• 43% of SMEs in Romania consider the lack of digital skills to be a major challenge.
• There is an urgent need to develop training and education programs to support SMEs in developing their digital skills.

Conclusion 4: Access to financing is another significant challenge for SMEs wishing to digitalize.

• 37% of SMEs in Romania consider access to financing to be a major challenge.
• Specific funding programs are needed to support SMEs in investing in digital solutions.

 

The EBRD report highlights the importance of digitalization for increasing the competitiveness and productivity of SMEs in Romania. You can download the report from here (click on the link):

https://www.eib.org/attachments/lucalli/20230198_digitalisation_of_smes_in_romania_ro.pdf

 

 

What can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) do?

Based on the EBRD report on the digitalization of SMEs in Romania, several concrete actions can be identified that SMEs can take to improve their competitiveness:

1. Adopting digital solutions:

• Implementing digital solutions such as CRM software, ERP, e-commerce platforms, and online marketing tools can help SMEs optimize their operations, improve efficiency, and increase online visibility.

2. Developing digital skills:

• Investing in training programs to develop the digital skills of the workforce is essential to enable SMEs to efficiently use digital solutions and maximize their potential.

3. Customer orientation:

• Using digital tools to collect and analyze customer data can help SMEs better understand their needs and preferences, offering them a personalized and improved experience.

4. Innovation and adaptability:

• Using digital solutions can facilitate innovation and adaptation to market changes, allowing SMEs to launch new products and services more quickly, explore new markets, and respond more efficiently to customer needs.

5. Collaboration and partnerships:

• Collaborating with other SMEs, universities, research institutes, and support organizations can facilitate access to resources, expertise, and know-how, contributing to accelerating the digitalization process and increasing competitiveness.

 

We support you in your efforts to increase the competitiveness of your company. Please complete the contact form, and we will call you to schedule an online discussion (via Zoom) in this regard.