SME Competitiveness Outlook 2018: Business Ecosystems for the Digital Age

New technologies such as advanced robotics, 3D-printing, big data and the Internet of Things are rapidly changing the way firms do business. The far-reaching nature of the transformation has led many to identify it as a fourth industrial revolution, or 4.0 for short. A strong business ecosystem is necessary to manage this change. This year’s SME Competitiveness Outlook proposes how to create it. This report focuses on technological changes related to digitalization and the rise of the platform economy. The digital platform revolution has greatly altered the way firms connect to others, be they buyers, suppliers, peers or supporting institutions at home and abroad. It could be argued that it is entirely reshaping the business environment, or ecosystem, of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that export or intend to export.