Business Forum • 12 February, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The private sector, especially SMEs, expects the state to put even more pressure on companies in 2025 and for new unpredictable changes to lead to increased instability. After the start of the year with measures applied suddenly, without consultation or an adaptation period, entrepreneurs expect instability and other drastic changes from the state, warns NextUp, a software company that implements tax changes in business management software.
Therefore, in this context, it is recommended that entrepreneurs make cold decisions, with more analysis of financial indicators, act strategically, and invest wisely.
SMEs, between "severe turbulence" and rapid adaptation
Among the major challenges of the year are tax increases, the elimination of tax incentives, and a difficult economic context for key sectors such as construction and agriculture. In these conditions, SMEs must find solutions to optimize their costs and remain competitive.
"Entrepreneurs expect from the state what they have always expected: clear legislation, fiscal stability, and support measures, not coercion. Instead, the year began with drastic changes, such as reducing the cap for micro-enterprises applied to financial results in 2024 and increasing the minimum wage overnight. There are no signs that 2025 will be a more stable year. On the contrary, we expect other drastic measures, which will especially affect small and medium-sized companies. Entrepreneurs want predictability, but economic reality and the authorities' decisions are going in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, 2025 begins exactly the opposite, with drastic changes that put even more pressure on SMEs, a year that can bring severe turbulence in the business environment," says Roxana Epure, Managing Partner of NextUp, a company in contact with over 6,000 SMEs.
Digitalization, the "seat belt" for companies in 2025
In such a volatile environment, digitalization becomes the safest way for SMEs to maintain control over their businesses.
"We expect to see an acceleration of digitalization in 2025, as entrepreneurs realize that it is an optimal way to have clarity on their financial and operational situation. Digitalization also allows them, depending on the stage of development of the company, to make better decisions and use the company's resources more efficiently. The trend of digitalization of SMEs began in 2024, out of fear of turbulence and instability in 2025. And this year it becomes increasingly obvious that the needs for digitalization are increasing. In turbulent times, an ERP or CRM software is no longer a simple management tool, but a 'seat belt' that ensures stability and clarity, allowing entrepreneurs to see what is happening in their business," emphasizes Roxana Epure.
Implementing effective digital solutions allows SMEs to better manage their resources, reduce financial risks, and make strategic decisions based on concrete data. In addition, automating internal processes contributes to reducing costs and increasing productivity. In this context, NextUp estimates a 50% increase in demand for ERP software, which allows for the efficient management of the entire business, after an increase of 50% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The year 2025 should be the year of optimizing internal processes through information systems so that SMEs can produce at a fair cost and continue their development.
In an unpredictable economic climate, the only viable strategy for SMEs is optimization and digitalization. NextUp recommends that entrepreneurs adapt their businesses through software solutions that provide better resource management and informed decision-making. In 2025, business success will not only depend on increasing revenue but also on the ability to optimize and streamline each process.
NextUp is the developer of ERP software that saves entrepreneurs time with bureaucracy, such as e-Invoice. NextUp software is adapted to local businesses and is used primarily in online retail, traditional retail, manufacturing, distribution, construction, and services, to automate repetitive, resource-consuming activities and optimize business processes and forecasts. NextUp has over 6,000 customers, with an average of 5 users per company.