Industry Study: Corporations are becoming more crisis-resistant
but the German-speaking regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH) are lagging behind when it comes to preparedness for the future
PRESS RELEASE
The economy has certainly learned from past crises: according to a recent survey by management consultants Staufen, part of Accenture, nine out of ten companies now rate their resilience as fairly or even very high – a clear sign of improvement compared to the previous year. Yet, while resilience is on the rise, the question of actual sustainability is often unanswered in many places. More than 300 companies were interviewed in the German-speaking (DACH) region for this study.
“The industry has learned how to deal with crises. Against the backdrop of geopolitcal uncertainties, increased tariffs, and delivery bottlenecks, we consider this to be a positive development”, states Staufen CEO Wilhelm Goschy. 87 percent of companies in the DACH region consider their company to be very resilient or somewhat resilient. A year ago, that figure was 81 percent. The percentage of companies that refer to themselves as very resilient has even increased from 20 to 25 percent.
Industrial expert Goschy feels that one of the most significant reasons for this are the stress factors companies have faced over the past few years: “Corporations have done quite a bit to improve their risk management, expand their digital technologies, and diversify their supply chains. These three aspects contribute considerably to the new resilience.”
Nonetheless, no matter how resilient many companies now are, they are still having a hard time taking the next step: making the leap towards a truly sustainable and future-proof corporate management. In the DACH region especially, the doubts pertaining to the business model are high, while in the United States, for example, optimism is prevalent, as was shown in an additional survey among 280 US companies.
Wilhelm Goschy
The future needs more than optimism alone
Only a quarter of the organizations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland feel that their own business model is future-proof. It is more than half of the organizations in the United States. In particular, the difference can be found in the approach. When asked about the measures being taken to further develop the business model, many organizations in the DACH region report that they are making use of tried and true measures.
The top three are:
- 59 percent are exploring new markets and products
- 48 percent want to respond to market changes faster
- 40 percent rely on increasing the customization options of their products and services
Staufen CEO Goschy recognizes a familiar pattern in this approach: “The DACH industry relies heavily on incremental improvements. However, true transformation needs more – it needs the courage to in fact question what is tried and true.”
Setting priorities looks decidedly different in the United States. There, many companies rely primarily on the increased use of digital technologies and platforms (53 percent). While emphasis is also placed on emerging markets and responding to market trends, data-based decisions (42%) and investments in research, development, and creativity (41%) play a much more pivotal role than in the DACH region.
Courage and agility are gaining in importance
Digitalization is not merely an add-on project there, but instead a core component of the business model. Wilhelm Goschy: “What is a matter of course in the United States is often considered to be a pipe dream in our region.”
This difference in mindsets is no coincidence. The huge American domestic market, a pragmatic relationship with data and pro-innovation attitude promote an agile approach. In Europe, on the other hand, regulation, a complex environment – and often a certain degree of wariness – prevail. “The technological shortfall in the digital sector may turn into a real competitive disadvantage in the years to come – particularly in times of growing global tensions,” warns Goschy.
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About the Study:
For this study, a total of 313 industrial companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland were surveyed in November 2024.
In addition, a survey was conducted among 280 companies in the USA.
Wilhelm Goschy
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