Cypriot businesses have significantly progressed with the integration of digital technologies into how they operate, according to the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat).
This was evident in Cystat’s latest report detailing the results of its 2024 survey on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and e-commerce in businesses.
The findings reveal that a substantial 84.1 per cent of businesses with ten or more employees provided their staff with mobile devices capable of connecting to the internet via mobile networks.
Furthermore, 88.1 per cent of businesses allowed remote access to corporate email, while 71.7 per cent enabled access to company documents, and 66.3 per cent permitted the use of business applications such as customer relationship management (CRM) and accounting software.
In addition, the survey found that 23.5 per cent of businesses received orders through computer networks.
The statistical survice also reported that 22.7 per cent of businesses utilised websites or applications to sell products and services.
Consumer orders were placed with 21.2 per cent of businesses, while 11.4 per cent received orders from other businesses or public authorities.
Nearly half of the surveyed businesses (49.4 per cent) paid for online advertising in 2024, a figure twice as high as in 2016.
The most common strategies included geographically targeted advertisements (43.5 per cent), search-based ads (38.4 per cent), and advertisements tailored to browsing history (28.7 per cent).
The survey revealed that 27.5 per cent of businesses employed ICT specialists, with the rate soaring to 85.8 per cent among large enterprises.
However, only 15.3 per cent of businesses provided training to their ICT staff, while 27 per cent offered training to non-specialised employees.
Recruitment challenges were also referenced in the report, as 12.2 per cent of businesses attempted to hire ICT personnel, but 6.4 per cent faced difficulties due to a lack of skilled professionals.
Security remains a priority for Cypriot businesses, with 95 per cent implementing strong password protections and 90 per cent utilising data backup systems.
Network access control was in place for 73.9 per cent of businesses, while 67.3 per cent employed virtual private networks (VPNs) for secure communication.
Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has increased among businesses, with 7.9 per cent utilising AI technologies in 2024, compared to 4.7 per cent in 2023.
Large enterprises led the trend, with 34.9 per cent integrating AI, followed by medium-sized businesses at 14.3 per cent and small enterprises at 6.3 per cent.
The most commonly adopted AI technologies included text mining, machine learning, and deep learning for data analysis.
What is more, the service noted that the digital transformation of Cypriot businesses is accelerating, driven by increased adoption of AI, e-commerce, and online advertising.
However, challenges remain, particularly in the availability of skilled ICT professionals, which could hinder future growth in the sector.
