• Deals strategy tops 2023 opportunities ranking for technology businesses
• Going local: 78% of tech companies now plan to decouple the supply chain
• Pressure rises to retain best talent as workforce disruption intensifies
Faced with high inflation, an energy crisis and falling consumer confidence, the biggest opportunity for tech companies in 2023 is to adopt an active mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy – according to an annual EY report, Top 10 opportunities for technology companies in 2023. As valuations come down, the appetite for deals is set to return next year. This is supported by a recent EY study, which finds that 72% of tech CEO respondents plan to pursue M&A in the next 12 months, compared with 59% of CEO respondents across all industries.
Iulia Bratu, Partner, Head of Lead Advisory, EY Romania: “Technology was the No. 1 sector for Romanian M&A in 2022, representing around 20% of the total number of deals and being mainly driven by inbound transactions. Furthermore, technology is the leading sector in M&A activity for the cumulative period 2018 – 2022. While transaction values remain mostly undisclosed, the strong historic trend and expectations that global activity will increase in 2023 can only indicate an even more positive outlook for Romania.”
Supply chain makeover
Improvements in the supply chain over the last few years have been thwarted by a decline in the political, economic and financial climate. In third place on this year’s ranking is the opportunity for tech businesses to reduce their dependency on geopolitically unstable geographies by doubling-down on localization. And tech executive respondents are on board, with 78% now planning to decouple their supply chain – including nearshoring and reshoring.
Retain top talent
The opportunity for businesses to build an agile talent strategy is at ninth position on the ranking. Up until a few months ago, the biggest workforce challenge for tech businesses was “The Great Resignation.” Driven by a re-alignment in work priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, 56% of employee respondents in the sector indicated that they were considering leaving their current role in the pursuit of higher pay, better wellbeing programs and new career opportunities. Today, the sector is not only dealing with talent shortages to fuel long-term growth, but also with hiring freezes and layoff rounds in response to economic uncertainty.
Sustainability reporting and edge computing
The report further predicts that environmental sustainability (fourth position in the ranking) will impact the tech sector in 2023 more so than in previous years, as companies adapt to comply with incoming regulation on disclosure around emissions and climate change risks. And a new entrant in seventh position is the potential for edge computing to reach maturity in the next 12 months for those businesses that are willing to invest in new IT architectures.
The full list of top 10 opportunities in technology for 2023 are:
1. Accelerate M&A strategy execution to strengthen growth profile
2. Experiment with platform ecosystems to disrupt the market
3. Double-down on localization, even if it comes at a cost
4. Prioritize environmental sustainability
5. Introduce pay as you go to attract complementary revenue streams
6. Leverage analytics tools to optimize revenues
7. Invest in edge ecosystem to improve operations and experiences
8. Cyber, cyber, cyber … ensure data protection
9. Drive an agile talent strategy to match resources with company need
10. Prepare for global minimum tax reform
About EY Romania
EY is one of the world's leading professional services firms with 365,399 employees in more than 700 offices across 150 countries, and revenues of approx. $45,4 billion in the financial year that ended on 30 June 2022. Our network is the most integrated worldwide, and its resources help us provide our clients with services allowing them to take advantage of opportunities anywhere in the world.
With a presence in Romania ever since 1992, EY is the leading company on the market of professional services. Our more than 900 employees in Romania and Moldova provide integrated services in assurance, tax, strategy and transactions, and consulting to clients ranging from multinationals to local companies.
Our offices are based in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi and Chisinau. In 2014, EY Romania joined the only global competition dedicated to entrepreneurship, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. The winner of the national award represents Romania at the world final taking place every year in June, at Monte Carlo. The title of World Entrepreneur Of The Year is awarded in the world final. For more information, please visit: www.ey.com
Please find the full version of the article also in the Ro document below:
