SMEs prove optimistic in bank poll

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Switzerland have become more optimistic in their assessments of the threats and opportunities presented by major global trends.

In this year’s survey, carried out by Credit Suisse economists, 51 per cent of the 1,800 companies surveyed see the overall impact of six selected megatrends as an opportunity, compared with 49 per cent last year.

Megatrends is a term to describe the most important changes taking place in the coming years which will have an impact on “all facets of our lives”, Credit Suisse said in a statement.

The six megatrends chosen by Credit Suisse for the annual survey are demography, globalisation, changing values, the scarcity of resources, the knowledge society and technological progress. 

Technological progress or innovation is the focus of this year’s survey. Almost all of the surveyed SMEs (94 per cent) see this trend as essential to the continued existence of their business.

Only scarcity of resources was predominantly regarded as negative, with 48 per cent classing this megatrend as a threat. “The reasons … are likely to lie in the growing concerns caused by rising commodity prices and the current political uncertainties,” Credit Suisse said.