Danish small businesses lagging behind in digitisation

Lack of digital ambition could cost jobs, worries DI

The managers and owners of small and medium-sized Danish enterprises (SMEs) are not necessarily interested in digitisation.

That is the conclusion of a survey conducted by the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) on the barriers to digital growth in SMEs. The survey was based on interviews with 15 businesses from all industries across Denmark.

“Some of the business executives we interviewed do not believe that there is any danger that they will be outmatched,” said DI Digital senior consultant Christian Hannibal.  “They do not feel that they have the time or resources to identify their options and they do not necessarily have any wish to grow their business.”

Hannibal said that that attitude would make it “difficult to generate new jobs in existing enterprises”.

Help available
DI has produced a publication that provides tips for SMEs on how to get started on digitisation and automation.

“The most important tip is to be ready to find inspiration both externally and among your employees and to involve members of the board who have knowledge about digitisation and automation,” said Hannibal.

DI has also set up a digital mentor corps with different digitisation and automation skills to provide company executives with one-to-one feedback on digital requirements.

Younger companies more willing
Among them is Mette Nikander, the managing director of the IT security company C-cure. She said that businesses with younger managers or a young board are much more likely to be willing to tackle digitisation.

“They are hungrier, have a greater belief that it can be done and are more likely to seek out new knowledge and ideas,” she said.

“What deters some businesses from increasing their efforts is that they have never met anyone who is in the process of digitisation. You hear objections like: ‘it is too expense’, ‘it is too difficult’, ‘we don’t have the time’, ‘it cannot be done in our field’. But these are just bad excuses. Those who feel that they are losing competitiveness somehow find that they are able to get moving.”




  • Tunø: An island running out of time

    Tunø: An island running out of time

    The island of Tunø harbors a community of 74 adults and one child. There are no cars and only one connection to the rest of the world. Now, climate change threatens it

  • Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

    Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

    The number of relocations across the Øresund Region is rising. As highlighted by 2023 numbers, Sweden benefits from a growing interest, especially among younger generations.

  • In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish

  • Here Comes The Sun…

    Here Comes The Sun…

    I escaped from Denmark this winter to the south of France, where I was convinced that the sunshine would inspire me to write this year’s Crazy Christmas comedy show.

  • Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rhymes with integrating

    Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rhymes with integrating

    On Wednesday, April 30, from 17:00 to 20:00, Studenterhuset will host Volunteer Night 2025, a free event organized by the organization International House Copenhagen, which goal is to ease the relocation process for newcomers in Denmark

  • The international who shaped Copenhagen

    The international who shaped Copenhagen

    Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.