Companies Swiss SMEs are more optimistic about the future again

SMEs in Switzerland are once again somewhat more optimistic about the future. This is the result of a study published by Raiffeisen on Tuesday.

Specifically, 69% of SMEs stated that the future economic situation was good to very good. A year earlier, only 62 percent were of this opinion.

More than 80 percent also expect stable or rising sales and are less critical of issues such as inflation and energy prices, even if these factors still play a major role.

Companies from the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, the hotel and catering industry and the construction sector - the latter possibly also thanks to the interest rate environment - are among the most optimistic. By contrast, companies from the energy and infrastructure sectors are more cautious about the future.

Meanwhile, foreign policy developments have made it into the top 3 risk factors. With the numerous geopolitical upheavals, the Swiss franc is increasingly coming back into focus as a safe haven. Together with the partially empty order books in certain industrial sectors, this is a "dangerous combination", noted Roger Reist, Head of Corporate Client Business, Treasury and Trading at Raiffeisen Switzerland, at the media conference.

AI still being used too hesitantly

Another key topic of this year's Raiffeisen SME study was artificial intelligence (AI). Although Swiss SMEs are still very reluctant to use AI, the majority have a neutral or positive attitude towards the technology.

More than a third of those surveyed do not yet use AI and only 9% use the technology "systematically". Only a few fear that artificial intelligence could really endanger the workforce. The human factor will continue to be important in the future, particularly with regard to creativity and the quality of decisions.

Companies are most likely to plan to use it in the areas of IT & digitalization and marketing & sales. It is evident that larger companies are taking on a pioneering role here - also because they can more easily make the necessary investments.

SDA