Scottish Tech Sector’s braving the storms of Covid and the Brexit signals, in no uncertain terms, that businesses are regaining their lost momentum and would, soon, either reach pre-pandemic level or exceed the expectations.
It is noteworthy that almost half of Scottish firms boosted their sales and profit margins as suggested by an industry survey.
In its annual barometer for the country’s tech sector, membership organisation ScotlandIS stated that the companies remained optimistic about the year ahead despite the continuing effects from coronavirus and uncertainty following Brexit.
Some 77 per cent of respondents were “very optimistic” about their prospects for the next 12 months.
Brighter than anticipated prospects
Companies stated that the greatest opportunities for their business over the next 18 months were likely to be in data analytics (51 per cent), artificial intelligence, machine learning (47 per cent) and the “internet of things” (27 per cent).
ScotlandIS with members employ about 60,000 people, also declared the launch of its manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections. It suggest a series of recommendations for stakeholders across Scotland to embrace digital transformation and to upskill the nation’s workforce and citizens.
Karen Meechan, interim chief executive of ScotlandIS, said: “Scotland’s digital and tech sector has shown its mettle this year, with resilience across the board.
“This has been a difficult year as companies have had to adapt quickly to the pressures brought by the pandemic and the uncertainty of Brexit. Yet, while it has been a difficult year, growth within the sector is high and we can look ahead optimistically.
“Collaboration has been a real strength within the sector, helping smaller businesses and creating new relationships across all aspects of society. As a sector we will continue to grow through collaboration and can look forward to a year of strong growth to come.”
International opportunities are at the forefront of much of the sector’s growth plans, with 60 per cent reporting that this is something they already committed while much of the remainder looking at plans to do so. New markets such as Australia and New Zealand are coming to the fore as businesses “adjust to Brexit”.
Although 2020 proved to be a difficult year for smaller businesses, it has been a mixed picture for larger enterprises; some 44 per cent reported a decline in sales, compared to just 17 per cent in 2019 and 30 per cent of businesses did manage to increase sales, while 83 per cent of medium-sized businesses expect their revenues to increase over the next 12 months.
The survey also submits that employment in the sector remains robust. Two thirds of small businesses expect to recruit more staff numbers over the next 12 months, down slightly compared to last year.
Although smaller businesses have shown an increasing demand for more senior, skilled talent, 36 per cent reported that they are likely to employ someone who underwent retraining in the next 12 months.
Meechan said : “ScotlandIS sees climate tech, GovTech and space tech as being the three areas whereby Scotland has enormous opportunity.
“As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, we have an opportunity to build back better, to reshape our society, to deliver highly skilled and fulfilling jobs and to drive efficiencies and productivity gains in our public services and established businesses.”
More than anything else, most encouraging sign is the positive approach to the calamity and that it has given an opportunity to start afresh and rejuvenate, specially the Scottish vibrant Tech Sector. Without doubt, prospects for the tech Sector is brighter than anticipated.
