The European Payment Report – Greece 2024, presented by Intrum, unveils digital transformation, efficiency enhancement, and liquidity improvement as core business objectives for 2024.
Out of 240 representatives surveyed across 15 sectors of the Greek market, a significant 77% prioritize digital transformation, surpassing the European average by 6%.
Efforts to streamline operations and reduce costs are also pronounced, with 72% of businesses aiming to enhance efficiency. Concurrently, 67% emphasize the importance of bolstering liquidity.
Encouragingly, sentiments regarding business performance are positive compared to the previous year, with 56% feeling equally or more resilient. Additionally, 76% report stabilized or decreased credit losses, signifying financial stability.
Looking ahead, over 40% of businesses prioritize development for 2024, with 65% recognizing the potential of digital business models as sustainable investments.
Meanwhile, 55% anticipate growth in the domestic market, with a notable 40% eyeing expansion into European markets.
Despite growth aspirations, half of the Greek businesses surveyed express interest in international expansion. However, practical challenges in back-office functions such as payment management and cash flows hinder their ambitions.
Moreover, sustainability emerges as a critical business priority, with 56% emphasizing the importance of environmental responsibility in customer retention.
Payment cycles are significantly influenced by overdue payments, highlighted by 63% of respondents, followed by common international challenges.
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seen as a potential solution to overdue payment management, with 43% anticipating AI-driven personalized communication to enhance processes.
However, concerns linger regarding potential errors and the loss of personal customer contact, with 61% expressing reservations about AI’s extensive use in payment management and back-office support.
