Brazilian small businesses face low digital maturity levels

A study conducted by Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) in partnership with the Agência Brasileira de Desenvolvimento Industrial (ABDI) reveals that 66% of surveyed micro and small enterprises (MPEs) in Brazil are at the initial levels of digital maturity. The research, which surveyed 2,572 private companies, reported an average maturity score of only 40.77 on a scale of 0 to 100.

MPEs are vital to the Brazilian economy, representing over 90% of businesses, contributing approximately 30% of the GDP, and accounting for more than half of all jobs. While digitalization offers benefits such as automating administrative tasks and replacing paper documents, the adoption of technologies like cloud computing remains limited among these businesses.

The study identified several barriers to digital transformation, including a lack of investment resources, insufficient technical knowledge, and a shortage of professionals or suppliers capable of supporting the transition.