One in three companies significantly invested for the future: SBF survey

Singapore

A THIRD of companies here have invested significant resources in preparing for the future, although a notable number are still dragging their feet when it comes to transforming their businesses, according to a new survey.

The Singapore Business Federation (SBF), in its annual National Business Survey, asked 1,019 companies about their concerns and outlook for the coming year. About 84 per cent of respondents were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while the rest were large firms.

The data was collected from Oct 11 to Dec 13, 2017.

The survey also found that business sentiment has picked up compared with the preceding year's poll.

Thirty-six per cent of those polled in the latest survey said they are satisfied with the current business climate in Singapore - up from 20 per cent a year earlier.

A quarter of those polled said they have yet to put in place major changes to keep up with the rapidly-evolving business landscape.

These "slow starters" were also more likely to suffer lacklustre growth and low profitability, the survey results showed.

Asked about plans to transform their businesses, a quarter of respondents said they have yet to take significant steps towards doing so.

Six in 10 of these "slow starters" reported lower profitability in the past year, compared with the average of 44 per cent of all businesses surveyed.

They were also less likely to have implemented new technologies or explored digitalisation opportunities.

At the other end of the spectrum, a third of respondents consider themselves to be at the forefront of innovation in their respective industries and have invested significant resources in preparing for the future.

These companies were three times more likely than "slow starters" to implement new technologies and also three times more likely to have grown locally and overseas, the survey found.

They were also up to 10 times more likely than "slow starters" to have implemented new digital solutions.

The findings suggest that companies considered to be "slow starters" are out of touch with technology and trends, said Mr David Black, managing director of research firm Blackbox Research, which collaborated with SBF on the survey.

"Slow starters appear to be far less responsive to some of the things happening in the business landscape... We also found that their self-reported business performance (was poorer)."

The survey also showed that manpower and costs remain key concerns for companies.

Hiring people with the right skills and attitude emerged as the top challenge faced by businesses, with 72 per cent of respondents citing it as a concern. This was followed by 58 per cent who said that they are grappling with high operating costs (excluding labour costs).

Six in 10 respondents said the upcoming Budget should focus on supporting digital transformation, while 53 per cent called for a relaxation in foreign labour quotas.

While companies have generally become more accepting of tight manpower, Singapore should remain open to talent - both local and foreign - in emerging growth sectors, said SBF chairman Teo Siong Seng.

Having the right talent is essential to helping companies transform, he added.

SBF chief executive Ho Meng Kit agreed, noting that it will take time to build up a pool of local talent in fast-growing tech segments such as artificial intelligence.

"Companies are asking for more help for digitalisation and I don't think it's just about putting in more financial resources - it's more about getting access to the right kind of manpower," said Mr Ho.

"Some of this manpower will have to be foreign. We should do a detailed study on skills shortages, and where we fall short, there should be some flexibility in manpower policy to bring in (foreign manpower) to train locals in a particular skill.

"Now that more companies are going on a transformation journey, I think the government should feed this momentum so that more companies (transform) quickly."