• 15% of European SMEs now use AI tools to research suppliers, as digital channels increasingly complement human interactions with significant differences across markets, from 9% in Germany to 23% in Poland and 24% in the Baltics.
• Supply chains are moving closer to home: 84% source domestically, 72% elsewhere in Europe, and 20% have reduced international deliveries amid geopolitical uncertainty
• Delivery is a business continuity issue: 86% say it is essential to their success and 46% identify it as key to business continuity
What drives businesses in 2026
In 2026, European SMEs are adapting to a business environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, evolving supply chains and the rapid development of digital tools. Based on interviews with 3,600 SMEs across 21 European countries and six industries, the second edition of the Geopost Business Barometer complements the company’s E-shopper Barometer by bringing a B2B perspective on parcel delivery, sourcing strategies and business continuity. It highlights three interconnected shifts: businesses are adopting increasingly diverse and hybrid approaches to identifying suppliers; delivery reliability and predictability are becoming strategic criteria for supplier selection and business continuity; and sourcing strategies are rebalancing towards local and European partners. (....)