This percentage is much higher than in the rest of Europe, the report shows. This is because 42 per cent of all European managers share this opinion and in neighboring Germany (39%) and the UK (30%) the percentage is even lower. However, 96 percent of European managers in principle support the introduction of a data-driven approach and creating a ‘digital first’ business model.

Cognizant asked managers in ten European countries how they prepared for the future. The findings reveal three key issues for managers to prioritize: reaping the full benefits of accelerating technology adoption, revising workforce strategies, and ultimately meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives.

More than 60 percent of European respondents plan to implement or have already implemented quantum computing, blockchain, robotics, cloud computing and/or virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR). Cloud computing has the highest implementation rate in Europe (87%) and VR/AR is still lagging behind. 52 percent of companies are already using this, or think they will use it soon.

The Netherlands leads the list in terms of robotics implementation (67%) or intention to launch it. In terms of quantum computing, the Netherlands is in second place (58%) and Germany leads the list (60%). Blockchain is rarely on the agenda in all countries: an average of 53 percent of managers plan to use it. Norway leads the list here with 58 percent and the Netherlands are last on this list with 50 percent.

Nearly half of European respondents (45%) admit that they are understaffed to implement and use advanced technology. In Sweden, the figure is even higher (49%) and in the Netherlands, nearly four in ten managers (38%) say they do not have employees who can implement new technology.

A higher percentage of European respondents consider it more important to plan for data and digitization for the long term than for the short term (46% vs 43%). The Netherlands sees embracing the latest technology as the most important, while Germany sees the need for it the least.