Survey: businesses give their efficiency a 7 out of 10 and see biggest potential in infrastructure

The survey found that these companies also ranked sales (32%) and cost management (27%) among the least effective areas of their operations. A further 21% and 20%, respectively, say they face challenges in logistics and staff management.

According to Mykolas Čiplys, Head of Sales and Rental at Darnu Group, this trend has repeated for the second year in a row, and companies see the greatest potential to improve efficiency and address these challenges in their rented or managed infrastructure.

„The survey confirms what we see every day in our interactions with businesses. For SMEs, the greatest potential to improve efficiency is linked to well-developed infrastructure (logistics, parking, availability of services), highlighted by almost every second business (48%). Also, strategic location (37%) and a modern, functional working environment (34%) are very important for companies in this regard,“ says Čiplys.

This, according to him, is not surprising. The survey shows that almost half (49%) of small and medium-sized businesses in Vilnius operate in two or more locations, and the same proportion work in premises built before 2000 – often during the Soviet era – which are usually inadequate for modern needs.

„Such businesses are the main tenants or buyers of the commercial warehouses we are developing in Vilnius Business Park, seeking to consolidate their processes under one roof in a convenient city location. Given that they operate in older premises and face high monthly maintenance costs, energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important, along with individual metering options that allow them to more accurately predict and manage these expenses,“ says the expert.

According to the survey, as many as 78% of businesses could reduce their operating costs by up to 40% by consolidating operations. Most often, it was stated that this would allow savings of 6–10% (29% of respondents) and 11–20% (24% of respondents) of operating costs.

59% of small and medium-sized businesses in the capital plan to invest this year, with 15% intending to renovate and improve their premises.

The survey of small and medium-sized businesses was conducted by market and public opinion research company Spinter Research on behalf of Darnu Group. Representatives of 213 companies operating in Vilnius participated in the