UK firms lead in productivity with tech adoption says Infor

New research from Infor reveals that UK companies are excelling in productivity and are effectively leveraging technology for greater efficiency and value creation.

Infor, a global cloud software provider, has conducted a study among 3,600 respondents in 14 countries and seven industries, which indicates that UK companies are positioned as leaders in productivity compared to their global peers. The research highlights a significant productivity disparity of 46% between the best and worst performers in the UK, surpassing the global average.

The findings from Infor point to untapped productivity potential within organisations, with many firms not fully utilising their resources. The survey shows that 80% of global organisations acknowledge their success is reliant on adopting new technologies. Furthermore, 77% of companies in the EMEA region, where the research was conducted, anticipate a 20% rise in productivity over the next three years.

In the UK specifically, there remains a 26% gap between organisations at the forefront of technological advancement compared to those more resistant to it, compared to a 15% global gap. This suggests a more concentrated focus by UK companies on integrating smart technology into their processes.

Kevin Samuelson, CEO of Infor, commented, "Companies in manufacturing, distribution and healthcare continue to face significant changes in their industries and businesses. Our research can help provide specific data and insights on how to successfully deploy technology and innovation to unlock value in a fast changing world. Every organisation wants to implement technology as a primary driver of value creation. The research that we have done identifies the 'Vectors to Value' that the most productive organisations use as a blueprint for success."

He continued, "Organisations need to optimise and continuously improve processes; embrace the power of advanced technology; push data in decision-making; and keep customer requirements front and centre. By aligning with these vectors, organisations can increase overall business productivity and therefore drive true value creation and competitive advantage."

Dr Chris Brauer, Director of Innovation at the Institute of Management Studies at the University of London, adds, "The research undertaken by Infor makes it clear that the real challenge isn't just about adopting technology, but the mindset and cultural shift needed to unlock its value. Organisations that succeed will be those ready to evolve their processes and fully embrace data-driven readiness, gaining clarity of vision for the future. It's a great look for what's to come."

The insightful review into UK organisations shows the importance of aligning business processes with smart technology and highlights how UK firms are focusing more acutely on these areas than their global counterparts. Infor's research underscores a substantial gap between productivity leaders and laggards in the UK, with a specific note on the 23% difference in smart technology integration between front-runners and those trailing, a much wider gap than the global rate of 9%.