PYMNTS Daily Data Dive: Digital Desuetude

A shocking number of businesses are worried about the fast pace of technology and feel threatened by digital startups, according to Dell Technologies. This effect is causing some companies to pursue digital transformation and other to risk desuetude as they fall behind their competitors.

Dell Technologies conducted a survey of 4,000 global business leaders of mid-sized and large companies from 16 countries and 12 industries. The results show that business leaders are experiencing disruptions in their industries because of digital technologies and the IoT. Some companies are seeing the need to invest in immediate digital transformation, but others are taking an incremental approach. Jeremy Burton, chief marketing officer for Dell Technologies, said: “So far, the fourth industrial revolution has proved as ruthless as its predecessors. If companies can’t keep up, they will fall behind … or worse. The ‘delay until another day’ approach simply won’t work.”

Here are the data:

78% | The percentage of traditional businesses that are worried about digital startups posing a threat to their organization, according to new research from Dell Technologies

60% | The percentage of companies that cannot meet crucial client requests such as faster 24/7 access to services and information and adequate security

52% | The percentage of business leaders who have experienced significant disruption in their industry from digital technology and the IoT in the last three years

48% | The percentage of business leaders who do not know what their industry will look like three years from now

45% | The percentage of companies that fear obsolescence in three to five years because of competition from digital startups.