Digital Transformation

The digital transformation of Greek enterprises has been at the heart of the research and statistical activity of the National Documentation Centre (EKT), by providing data and insights into the national research and innovation system and contributing to evidence-based policy-making.

40.2%

of Greek enterprises considers Digital Transformation as a very important continuous growth strategy

41.7%

of Greek enterprises considers the emphasis on digital technology for the goods/ services improvement and development as the most pivotal strategic area of Digital Transformation

58.5%

of Greek enterprises used digital technologies for the development of innovative processes

Digital Transformation as a very important continuous growth strategy

Per results of the EKT's statistical survey regarding the adoption of Digital Transformation as a "continuous & overall growth strategy", 40.2% of Greek enterprises consider Digital Transformation as a very important continuous growth strategy, a value which reflects an increase compared to the 2016-2018 period (33.5% respectively). Large enterprises, enterprises which are mainly service providers and innovative enterprises perceive Digital Transformation as more significant compared to SMEs, industrial and non-innovative enterprises respectively. In all major geographical regions of the country (NUTS1: Attiki, Voreia Ellada, Kentriki Ellada and Nisia Aigaiou, Kriti) Digital Transformation is highly perceived as a very important continuous business growth strategy, with Attiki capturing the highest percentage (42.7% ).

Digital technologies usage to develop innovative business processes

The statistical results indicate that 29.7% of the enterprises developed the digital applications used in business process innovations exclusively in-house, while an additional 19.2% of the enterprises developed the digital applications both in-house and out-sourced. Only a small percentage (9.6%) developed digital applications exclusively out-sourced for the same purpose.

Usage of pioneering digital technologies to develop innovative products (goods/services) and/or business processes

Regarding the innovative products and processes development, the main technologies used in the 2018-2020 period include internet of things (35.5%), cloud computing (33.8%), cyber security (29.2%) and big data analytics (24.2%).

Pioneering digital technologies for future business growth

Regarding the importance of pioneering technologies for future business growth, the most important technologies are cyber security (17.0%), big data analytics (14.5%), cloud computing (13.6%), internet of things (13.2%) and 5G (12.7%).
At the same time, however, a large percentage of enterprises demonstrates low levels of knowledge and understanding of technologies, such as artificial intelligence (31.7%), blockchain technologies (31.6%) and 3D printing (30 .1%).

Usage of pioneering digital technologies

The areas in which enterprises intend to use pioneering technologies include all business functions, with “improving existing goods or services” and “developing or increasing knowledge about customer needs and preferences” capturing rates close to 80%.
The main key factors that would facilitate pioneering digital technologies adoption by enterprises in the future are personnel with digital knowledge - skills (57.7%), public funding (56.5%), information on new technologies (54.5%) and the availability of technical infrastructure (47.4%).