Research: «Greek SMEs - Challenges and Opportunities»

Sections

Question 1: How would you describe the level of Greek Public Sector’s Support towards SMEs in necessary documents collection?

Question 2: How would you describe the level of Greek Public Sector’s Support towards SMEs in documents submission?

Question 3: How would you describe the level of Greek Public Sector’s Support towards SMEs in the quick start of a new business?

Question 4: How would you describe the level of Greek Public Sector’s Support towards SMEs in finding suppliers?

Question 5: How would you describe the level of Greek Public Sector’s Support towards SMEs in the provision of alternative funding sources?

Question 6: How would you describe the level of Greek Public Sector’s Support towards SMEs in the provision of necessary guidance?

Question 7: In which startup procedures do SMEs face the highest levels of disappointment and dissatisfaction towards the Greek Public Sector?

Question 1: Are you aware if there are available training programs offered by the public sector for SMEs entrepreneurs in your town?

Question 2: Have you ever participated in any training program offered by the public sector?

Question 1: How easy is to find right qualified employees for your business?

Question 2: Sectors facing the biggest difficulty finding employees

Question 1: How easy is it for your clients to choose another business of your sector for the same product/service?

Question 2: Do you often confirm that the services /product you provide meet customers’ expectations and do you evaluate business processes aiming at business improvement?

Question 1: To what extent do you agree that the fundamental factor of success is the quality of the product / services you provide?

Question 2: To what extent do you agree that the fundamental factor of success are the competitive prices?

Question 3: To what extent do you agree that the fundamental factor of success is customers’ satisfaction?

Question 4: To what extent do you agree that the fundamental factor of success is the easiness to find the business by the interested potential customers?

Question 5: To what extent do you agree that the fundamental factor of success is the business's technological evolution?

Question 6: SMEs Success Factors:

Question 1: Is your business present online?

Question 2: To what extend do you believe your online presence has helped you?

Question 3: If you don’t have online presence, to what extent are you interested in creating in the near future?

Question 1: Which of the following ways do you use for promoting your business?

Question 1: What do you believe is the level of your technological Knowledge (PC use, smartphone use etc.)?

Question 2: To what extent do you agree that technology use improves business processes’ effectiveness?

Question 3: To what extent do you agree that technology use speeds up business processes?

Question 4: To what extent do you agree that technology improves the business’s image?

Question 5: To what extent do you agree that technology use works as a competitive advantage?

Question 6: To what extent do you agree that technology use improves provided Services to customers?

Question 7: To what extent do you agree that technology use ameliorates the cooperation with business partners?

Question 8: Do you identify the positive effects technology use could offer to your Business?

Question 9: Do you intend to adopt new ways of technology use for your business services/products improvement and to exploit the advantages technology could offer nowadays?

Question 1: How do you maintain your customers data?

Question 2: How do you maintain your financial Data.

Question 1: What change has been made in your business revenue during the last 12 months?

Question 2: What change has been made in your prices during the last 12 months?

Question 1: How optimistic are you towards your business future evolution?

Question 1: Business Sector of Operations

Question 2: How long do you operate your business?

Question 3: How many employees are there in your business?

Question 4: Which is your position in the business?

Question 5: Gender

Question 6: Age

Question 7: Education

Summary

The survey “Greek SMEs Challenges & Opportunities” was conducted by E-Commerce Research Centre- ELTRUN, Athens University of Economics & Business in cooperation with the online platform Douleutaras.gr which provides to users easy access to the right professional for their needs.

This survey aims to identify the categories of problems and challenges that Greek SMEs of different sectors face. Simultaneously aims to capture the levels of technology use in their daily operation and their willingness to evolve technologically and exploit technology potentials.

Quantitative method has been used for conducting this survey using a questionnaire. 430 SMEs representatives of different sectors, douleutaras.gr cooperatives, have participated in the survey.

The main outcomes and conclusions that have been revealed are summarized below:

Support and help provided by the public administrative services to the new SMEs has been characterized as inadequate.
Almost 6 out of 10 SMEs have suffered from a significant revenue decrease the last 12 months, many of them have witnessed a turnover reduction greater than 50%.
Most of SMEs face strong competition in their sector. SMEs representatives believe that is easy for a potential customer to choose another business for getting the same or similar product or service.
4 out of 10 entrepreneurs face difficulties in finding the right qualified employees for their businesses.
Just 2 out of 10 entrepreneurs are aware of the available training programs provided by the public sector, out of which just the half of them have attended such a program.
There is an increasing penetration of digitalization and technology use in SMEs operations where 2 out of 3 are keeping digital files of their customer and financial data.
Digital marketing tools are being used more and more limiting traditional promotion ways to a great extent.
It is impressive that 4 out of 5 SMEs are already present online and 75% of them declare very satisfied from the effect the online presence has in their business evolution.
3 out of 4 participants declare that they will seek technological evolution for their business in the near future.
The fundamental factors of success that the participants have highlighted are product/ service quality and customer satisfaction.
Despite the long economic crisis and the general uncertainty for the future, high percentages of the participants remain optimistic concerning their business future.

Summing up, Greek SMEs have realized to a great extent the value of technology use and appear to change towards this direction. Some of them to a greater extent and some of them less dependently mainly on the sector they operate.

The basic and most significant obstacles appear to be their estimation towards the cost of technology use and their incomplete knowledge towards technology possible ways of use. Of course, fundamental problems (low public sector support level, difficulties in finding employees etc.) in addition to economic crisis results (sales decrease, sector competition increasing pressure etc.) consist the basic obstacles for their business evolution.

Despite the challenges and the existing difficulties in Greek business ecosystem, SMEs’ representatives declare optimistic and willing to evolve. Digitalization opportunities, training opportunities and competitive advantage acquisition opportunities are wide and the visionary entrepreneurs have their chance to take advantage of them for their business and customers benefit.

Read the Survey’s Analytical Findings HERE

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