German digital transformation and technology dependency

German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly integrating digital transformation and cloud services into their core operations. Data from the digital association Bitkom indicates that 90 percent of German companies utilize cloud services, with 65 percent reporting that their operations would cease without them.

While digitalization drives growth and international reach through various B2B platforms, concerns regarding digital sovereignty have emerged. Bitkom has warned that German companies face significant economic risk due to a reliance on digital imports, estimating that businesses could only survive for an average of 16 months without them. Survey data shows that 96 percent of businesses rely on foreign digital technologies or services. High dependencies exist for hardware, semiconductors, cloud services, software, and cybersecurity. Although 93 percent of importing companies expect disruptions if imports fail, only 40 percent have prepared to switch out critical providers or systems.

Recent developments show industry efforts to address these vulnerabilities. TQ-Group has emphasized the need for reliable political frameworks to support the industrial Mittelstand, focusing on strategic procurement and obsolescence management to combat supply chain volatility and rising component prices. Simultaneously, a strategic partnership between SEEBURGER and Schwarz Digits aims to strengthen European digital sovereignty. By integrating business services with STACKIT’s sovereign cloud infrastructure, the collaboration seeks to help companies manage regulatory requirements and geopolitical uncertainties through secure cloud services and AI orchestration.