As the year draws to a close, nearly one in three executives (31%) in a recent survey identify labor shortages as their most significant challenge. After lack of available staff, lack of capital for investment, higher costs and technology-related challenges follow. The survey was conducted by software company Klippa to identify the priorities of the Dutch business community.
"In the current business climate, we face a wide range of challenges. In my personal experience, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find new talent as our company grows. So it comes as no surprise to me that almost a third of the Dutch managers in our survey feel the same way. The need for qualified personnel in these demanding times is great," said Yeelen Knegtering, CEO of Klippa.
Second on the list of challenges in 2023 is 'lack of capital for investment,' which was identified by 25% of respondents as the biggest problem. 'Rising costs' was seen as the biggest concern by 11% of executives, completing the podium.
Other challenges cited were problems with digital transformation, sustainability issues, slow or limited business growth and declining sales. Respondents to Klippa's survey represent companies with estimated annual sales from €500,000 to more than €1 billion.
So what's next?
The survey results confirm recent figures from the UWV. Most regions and fields of work in the Netherlands face a tense and very tight labor market. As a result, companies face several problems, including high staff turnover and competition for talent.
In Klippa's survey, executives also shared solutions, such as collaborating with universities, finding innovative ways to reach and retain employees and intelligent automation.
The lack of capital for investment, the second most frequently mentioned challenge, creates additional problems in a market that is already under pressure. Survey participants cited solutions such as raising debt and equity capital, crowdfunding and organic growth. "This is exactly why knowledge sharing is valuable - it allows organizations to solve problems with proven solutions. A great way to collaborate and avoid duplication and instead drive progress and growth," Yeelen Knegtering added.
About the research
Klippa’s C-Level Insights Survey was completed by a diverse group of executives from Dutch companies. The majority of respondents are CEOs (60%), followed by CTOs (11%), CFOs (9%) and other C-suite executives. They work in 18 different sectors, in organizations of all sizes: from small to medium-sized companies to even large enterprises with annual revenues of more than €1 billion.
Klippa was founded in Groningen in 2015 and now employs 100+ professionals. The company aims to digitize and automate cumbersome document flows using modern technologies such as machine learning and OCR. The tech company serves more than a thousand customers at home and abroad with various product lines. These include software for improving administrative processes, scanning receipts and invoices, claims processing, identity verification and data extraction.
