Digital capability of New Zealand businesses
This information brings together key data and insights to help you understand how New Zealand businesses operate and engage with government. It summarises evidence from Stats NZ and MBIE research, with a focus on small businesses and their needs.
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New Zealand business digital insights 2024
Our research found that:
- While overall digital tool usage and confidence has remained largely the same, there is an emerging digital divide — some businesses are seizing more digital opportunities and others are falling behind.
- Many businesses continue to believe cybersecurity is hindering their digital progress. Lack of time and knowledge to make the right digital choices also feature as barriers to digital adoption.
- To help build digital capability, the 2 top digital needs where businesses primarily seek support are:
- choosing the most appropriate and affordable digital tools, and
- digital marketing.
Business digital capability monitor key findings and update — July 2024 [PDF 795KB]
Published: May 2023, based on data collected during November 2023 to January 2024.
New Zealand business digital insights 2023
Our research found that:
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Half (52%) of all New Zealand businesses believe they would benefit from being more digital, a slight increase from 49% in the previous year.
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‘Information security and fraud’ remains the most frequently identified barrier to further digital enablement by businesses. Two thirds of businesses experienced cybersecurity issues in the 12 months to March 2023, and half of all respondents stated that they regularly consider this threat as they run their business.
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Cost and value for money concerns have increased slightly amid ongoing challenging economic conditions. Because of these concerns, 48% of businesses are not as digitally enabled as they could be.
Published: May 2023, based on data collected during November 2022 to March 2023