Australian small
businesses are less likely to invest in, use, earn from or offer customers the
use of digital technologies than their Asia-Pacific counterparts, according to
CPA Australia. CPA Australia surveyed 4,227 businesses in 11 markets about
their operations and plans. Australian small businesses won the “wooden spoon”
for digital transformation:
In addition, Australian small businesses were
the second least likely to earn revenue from online sales and third least
likely to offer customers the choice of digital payment technologies. CPA Australia Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hunter labelled the
results disappointing, saying; “Other markets made major in-roads on digital
transformation during the pandemic. Clearly, Australian small businesses need
more help than they’re getting to leave the digital dark ages behind.”
Unsurprisingly, most businesses in the region
reported that COVID-19 had a major impact on their business. However, the
consequences appear to have been felt slightly more strongly in Australia. Only 22.3 per cent of Australian small businesses grew last year –
the second lowest result of any market surveyed. Only 8.3 per cent of
Australian small businesses added employees – the lowest result.
Despite the impact of COVID-19, 36.1 per cent of
Australian small businesses reported they made no “major change” in response to
the pandemic, the highest result of any market surveyed. They did not, for
example, access government support, negotiate rent reductions or loan holidays,
delay taxation payments or reduce capital expenditure.
Australian small businesses stuck in digital dark ages
