“Businesses are facing some big hurdles: Inflation is at a 40-year high, top talent continues to be at a premium and supply chain complications are causing major business challenges. Yet proactive business leaders will continue to pursue growth despite these obstacles. They’re prioritizing investments in hiring and retaining talent and in their digital transformation initiatives. There’s a belief in the future that fuels hope and determination.”
– Bert Miller, President & CEO, MRINetwork
EMEA
The concept of digital engagement is frequently used to assess to what extent people use internet-connected devices in their day-to-day lives. Many people assume that younger people are more digitally engaged than older generations, but research by PYMNTS suggests that this stereotype only tells half the story. The report entitled “Benchmarking the World’s Digital Transformation,” which looked at consumer behavior across 11 countries, revealed that while millennials were important early proponents of eCommerce, engaging older generations is key to realizing the full potential of the digital economy.
Among the six European countries studied — the U.K., Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain — the graphs skew towards a high level of engagement among millennials, slightly lower among Generation Z, and yet lower being found among Generation X. The generations with the lowest levels of digital engagement in these countries were the baby boomers and seniors. The data further showed that countries like the U.K and the Netherlands are overreliant on the spending power of millennials when it comes to growing sustainable digital economies.
The report concludes that if Europe is to more evenly share in the advantages of digital technology, it needs initiatives that encourage cross-generational consumer and cultural engagement with the internet.
For access to the full report, go to Report: Europe’s Digital Transformation Slowed | PYMNTS.com.
ASIA PACIFIC
Several recent studies, reported on by the publication Hong Kong Business, give insights into the current state of mind among Hong Kong employees.
- More than nine in ten Hong Kong employees are at risk of burnout in 2022 due to unfair treatment and lack of competitive rewards, making it the highest among markets in Asia, according to asset management firm Mercer.
- Another study by workspace innovation company The Instant Group, indicated that 72% of Hong Kong employees have expressed displeasure towards work. Based on the study findings, Hong Kong workers spend 41 hours on their jobs each week and have the lowest amount of leave days in the Asia Pacific region with only seven days, tied with Singapore.
- According to a study from recruitment firm Randstad, between attractive salary and work-life balance, employees prefer the latter amidst their experience of lock-in syndrome. Specifically, it showed that 60.4% of employees prefer work-life balance when choosing jobs, about 0.2 percentage points higher than attractive salaries and benefits.
Read more at Overworked? Study finds that 72% of Hong Kong employees are unhappy | Hong Kong Business.
THE AMERICAS
Trade Intelligence Americas, an annual research project conducted by PwC, looks at selected issues that are of particular interest to businesses operating in the Americas. Relying on a regional network of customs and international trade professionals, the report shares insights on the latest news as well as regulatory and technical developments based on working with businesses in the region and on discussions with authorities.
The current edition features reports on nine regions in the Americas and covers a broad range of topics including the challenges of making payments abroad, importation processes, trade integration agreements and other issues of importance to companies engaged in doing business with these countries.
Download the full report at Trade Intelligence Americas December 2021: PwC.