The pandemic has reinforced the importance of agility for many businesses.

What role does agility play in securing future success for your business? What are the drivers of agility in a post-COVID-19 environment? 

Click play for a summary of the findings and find out more below. 

Agility secures post-COVID-19 future

By interviewing businesses in November 2019 and September 2020, we have a unique perspective on approaches to business agility before and during COVID-19. One of our key findings was that 82% now consider agility important to their future, up from 66% before the pandemic. 

Read the full report for more details.

Businesses who consider agility important to their future.
Graph.

Business focus for the next 12 months

In Autumn 2020, the immediate priority for 22% of businesses was recovery from the negative impacts of COVID-19. However, over a third (37%) were focused on growing either organically, by increasing market share or through acquisition. There are significant differences between the focus on key business sectors depending on how much they have been affected by the restrictions. 

Read the full report for more details.

For longer-term business goals

Our study shows in the medium to long term, views on business objectives for the future revert to close to those recorded pre-pandemic. 91% of businesses believe their main objective will have graduated from the recovery phase to focus on growth, building market share and diversification in 3-5 years. 

Read the full report for more details.

91% businesses will focus on growth as main objective in the longer term.
Graph.

Perception of agility has changed

The crisis has reinforced and changed views on the importance of agility and what will be needed to operate in a changed business landscape. Nearly half of businesses (47%) consider agility to be much more important in achieving long-term goals post-COVID-19, with a further 35% reporting that agility will be slightly more important.

Read the full report for more details.

What constitutes agility?

The decision making ability of an organisation is viewed as the most important quality for future agility, over and above business leadership in itself. Technology and financial management have also risen in importance given the challenges of the last year.

Read the full report for more details.

Use of technology? New Products? Decision Making Ability? Business leadership? Financial management?

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Read the second report in the series

Read the second report in the series

In this report we give consideration to what drives agility and what businesses are investing in to secure it, with employees being given a greater priority than pre-COVID-19. We also look at how sources of funding can impact agility.
Keep agile - paper 2
Gillian White

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Gillian White | Partner Head of M and A

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