Navigator – Resilience: building back better

How have companies weathered the current crisis? And how are they preparing for an uncertain future? Our survey shares insights from business decision-makers around the world

A picture of challenge and change

Businesses are living through the biggest global crisis in a generation.

To understand how it’s affected them, including their plans for the future, we surveyed more than 2,600 companies globally as part of our annual Navigator research.

The results paint a picture of challenge and change. While 98% of businesses have felt the impacts of the crisis, 65% have been agile and stable enough to be resilient. And many see the crisis as a catalyst for change and long-term growth.

The insights in the Resilience report will help you grasp those opportunities while overcoming the challenges.

Why not get ahead today?

Navigator – Building back better

Resilience unwrapped

Our research revealed a common understanding among businesses of all sizes and sectors of the building blocks of resilience.

They are:

Pulling through by pulling together – with customers, employees and other businesses.
Building agility through a collaborative, people - first culture.
Using technology to build that culture and grow the company.
Seeing sustainability as vital for resilience today and growth tomorrow.
Using closer relationships with suppliers to build a secure and transparent supply chain.

How is your business building resilience?

Resilience is the result of many factors

Companies of all sizes and sectors agree there’s more to resilience than a strong balance sheet.

33%

of your peers see employee morale as the biggest barrier to resilience in the next six months

What drives resilience?

What will be the biggest barriers to resilience in the next six months?

62%

Finances Includes cash flow; cost of/access to working capital

62%

Workforce Includes employee morale; ability to bring employees up to speed on new ways of working

37%

Technology Includes access to advanced technology; digitisation of the business

Businesses are concentrating on culture

Capturing the positive changes from the crisis and putting people first will help businesses become more agile.

49%

Treating employees well is among the key characteristics of a resilient business

4 in 5

businesses have become closer to their employees, customers and suppliers

How do your peers expect technology to change the way they work in the next two years?

57%

More virtual internal and external meetings

37%

Remote working becoming the norm

29%

Reducing office space

Technology will continue to be critical

While technology has kept many businesses going, its longer-term value will lie in supporting a more responsive, collaborative culture.

63%

of businesses are preparing for future uncertainty by adopting technology or investing in innovation

Companies prioritize technologies that will enable them achieve their future goals

25%

Tools that enable collaboration through virtual meetings

23%

Tools that enable digitised production processes

9%

Tools that enable digital payments

Sustainability is taking centre stage

Businesses increasingly view sustainability as integral to their operations. Like technology, it both builds resilience and offers long-term opportunities for growth.