The government has proposed plans for 2025 to reduce the regulatory burden on SMEs. The aim is for entrepreneurs to have more time for entrepreneurship, innovation and digital development. This time is desperately needed for the digital development of entrepreneurs and their companies. Research by Vodafone Business and MKB-Nederland conducted by Ipsos shows that entrepreneurs miss opportunities due to a lack of digital knowledge. Without targeted support and tools, this new available time, including for digital development, will remain unused.
Although more than two-thirds of entrepreneurs want to develop further in the field of digitalization over the next three years, there is often a lack of insight and guidance to effectively use more advanced technologies. 76 percent are also optimistic and enthusiastic about the possibilities that digitalization can offer them.
Although entrepreneurs want to develop, they mainly see opportunities in technologies they already know, such as automation of tasks and processes, digital administration and services. They are much less likely to explore advanced technologies. Only 17% are involved in the Internet of Things (IoT) and 14% in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
This modest focus contrasts with their own assessment: entrepreneurs often estimate their digital level higher than that of SMEs in general, causing them to overestimate their digitization position. To give an example; 26% indicate that they have various digital tools and software available, while they estimate that only 14% of the entire SME sector is at that level.
Source: www.emerce.nl
