Some 73% of Spanish SMEs have a ‘low’ or ‘very low’ level of digitalisation, a new study by tech firm Pandora FMS has found.
Sancho Lerena, CEO of Pandora FMS, explains that while sectors like telecommunications are inherently digitalised, “there are many others that are not, especially when we talk about small and medium-sized companies.”
The Spanish government suggests the lack of digitalisation in SMEs stems from a lack of demand, while industry experts also point to a reluctance to invest in new technologies, including AI, and a shortage of IT-trained specialists.
Factors to consider
“There are two factors to consider,” Lerena noted. “One is that there is still a lack of IT training and specialists hired by companies. And the second is that there is a certain fear of investing in this area, even though it is essential in today’s economy.”
The average percentage of low or very low digitalisation levels among SMEs in the EU exceeds 76%, with Spain on a par with countries like Ireland and Cyprus where around 70% of SMEs have low digitalisation.
Disparity in the market
The disparity between SMEs and large companies in terms of digitalisation is significant, Pandora FMS claims.
Less than 25% of large Spanish companies have low or very low digitalisation levels, and over 37% have a very high level, compared to less than 6% of SMEs.
“There is a very pronounced difference depending on the size of the company,” said Lerena. “It may be understandable in small companies, but a company with 200 employees cannot give up on digitalisation. It is essential to have monitoring systems that create a safe and also much more productive environment.”
Spain is currently engaged in a digitalisation plan, with significant progress expected by 2025.
