7 Reasons Why SMEs Need Export Management Services
If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) that wants to grow your business internationally, you might be wondering what export management services are and how they can help you. Export management services are specialized services that help SMEs plan, execute and manage their export activities. They can provide you with expert advice, market research, logistics support, regulatory compliance, marketing assistance and more. Here are seven reasons why SMEs need export management services:
1. identify new markets
Export management services can help you identify and enter new markets. One of the biggest challenges for SMEs is finding and accessing new markets for their products or services. Export management services can help you conduct market research, identify potential customers, evaluate competitors, and develop market entry strategies. They can also help you adapt your products or services to meet the local needs and preferences of your target markets.
2. reduce costs
Export management services can help you reduce costs and risks. Exporting involves many costs and risks, such as transportation, customs, taxes, currency fluctuations, legal issues, quality control, and more. Export management services can help you minimize these costs and risks by providing you with reliable and cost-effective logistics solutions, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations, managing currency exchange and payment issues, and handling quality assurance and customer service.
3. increase sales
Export management services can help you increase your sales and profits. By expanding your market reach and customer base, exporting can boost your sales and profits. Export management services can help you optimize your pricing strategy, promote your brand awareness, create effective marketing campaigns, and generate leads and referrals. They can also help you negotiate contracts, close deals, and maintain long-term relationships with your customers.
4. improve competitiveness
Export management services can help you improve your competitiveness and innovation. Exporting exposes you to new ideas, technologies, trends, and best practices that can enhance your competitiveness and innovation. Export management services can help you access new sources of information, knowledge, skills, and networks that can inspire you to improve your products or services, create new offerings, or enter new sectors or niches.
5. diversify income streams
Export management services can help you diversify your income streams and reduce your dependence on domestic markets. Exporting can help you diversify your income streams and reduce your reliance on domestic markets that may be saturated, unstable, or affected by external factors such as economic downturns, political unrest, or natural disasters. Export management services can help you balance your portfolio of markets and customers, and increase your resilience and sustainability.
6. leverage government support
Export management services can help you leverage government support and incentives. Many governments offer various forms of support and incentives to encourage SMEs to export, such as grants, loans, tax breaks, trade missions, trade shows, trade agreements, and more. Export management services can help you identify and access these opportunities, and comply with the requirements and conditions.
7. save time
Export management services can help you save time and resources. Exporting can be time-consuming and resource-intensive for SMEs that may lack the experience, expertise, or capacity to handle all the aspects of exporting. Export management services can save you time and resources by taking care of the export-related tasks for you, allowing you to focus on your core business activities.
Global Demand for SMEs
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are businesses that have revenues, assets, or a number of employees below a certain threshold. The definition of an SME varies from country to country, but generally, it is based on the number of employees, turnover, or balance sheet total.
SMEs play an important role in the global economy, as they account for the majority of businesses and employment in most countries. According to the World Bank, SMEs represent about 90% of businesses and more than 50% of employment worldwide.
Trends in SME Sector
The SME sector has been facing various challenges and opportunities in recent years, such as digitalization, globalization, innovation, and sustainability. Some of the key trends that have been affecting the demand for SMEs are:
– Digitalization: The adoption of digital technologies and platforms has enabled SMEs to access new markets, customers, and suppliers, as well as to improve their productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. However, digitalization also poses some risks and challenges for SMEs, such as cybersecurity, data protection, skills gap, and regulatory compliance.
– Globalization: The expansion of trade and investment flows has opened up new opportunities for SMEs to participate in global value chains (GVCs), which are networks of production and service activities that span across multiple countries. However, globalization also exposes SMEs to increased competition, volatility, and uncertainty in the global market.
– Innovation: The development and diffusion of new products, processes, and business models has been a key driver of growth and competitiveness for SMEs. Innovation can help SMEs to differentiate themselves from their competitors, meet customer needs, and adapt to changing market conditions. However, innovation also requires significant investments in research and development (R&D), human capital, and intellectual property rights (IPR).
– Sustainability: The growing awareness and demand for environmental and social responsibility has created new opportunities for SMEs to contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), which are a set of 17 global goals that aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. However, sustainability also imposes some costs and obligations for SMEs, such as reducing their environmental impact, ensuring decent working conditions, and complying with ethical standards.
References:
https://books.google.com/books?id=sGliMcf3KPcC
https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-07-2021-0279
https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/accounting/small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-smes/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_and_medium-sized_enterprises
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/smefinance
https://www.oecd.org/cfe/smes/ministerial/documents/2018-SME-Ministerial-Conference-Plenary-Session-2.pdf
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/wtr11-2b_e.pdf
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/20780990-en.pdf?expires=1643382849&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=0F6C7F9E8B7C7A0D9C8E1F4B0E9A1B5B
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
https://www.export.gov/Export-Management-Companies