We are using PPE (e.g., masks) and other equipment in lieu of social distancing
Our workforce is still mostly remote to avoid social distancing issues
55%
23%
10%
8%
3%
0%
Our workplace has enough space to maintain full capacity, even with social distancing requirements
We are not managing social distancing with our employees
We are using shift management with lower capacity per shift
We are shrinking operations and producing less product because of social distancing requirements
How is your company managing through social distancing?
Protect
Where do you plan to cut costs— and invest—in the next 6 months?
INVESTMENTS
COST CUTTING
PIVOT
What type of data is the most important in informing business decisions right now?
Other
1%
Technology
13%
R&D/innovation
17%
We are not planning any cost cuts
17%
Marketing and business development
25%
Labor/employees
35%
Real estate
42%
Travel
69%
Technology
69%
R&D/innovation
35%
Marketing and business development
31%
Labor/employees
25%
Not planning to increase investment
16%
Real estate
5%
Other
3%
Travel
2%
In our quarterly pulse survey of 150 C-level executives, respondents share how they’ve shored up their businesses and pivoted them amid never-ending change. They also share their primary investment areas that, heading into 2021, will help them prevail in the post-pandemic economy.
2-MINute TAKEDOWN
Everyone is managing their business through social distancing, but requirements are less than ideal. More than half are still working primarily remote to avoid it, and 40% say it’s the No. 1 hindrance to employee productivity.
M&A is emerging as a clear strategic priority heading into 2021, with 43% strongly considering acquisitions in the next 6-18 months and nearly 1 in 10 considering a complete sale.
Real estate and travel take the biggest hit in investment areas, while 69% plan to invest in more technology, even after 57% have tried new data and analytics capabilities tech during the pandemic.
Customer
data/surveys
28%
Employee
data/surveys
7%
Competitor
intelligence
9%
Macroeconomic indicators
17%
Cash flow/financial
data
37%
What new technology has your organization tried in the last 6 months?
Data/analytics platform
57%
Artificial intelligence
21%
Machine
learning
21%
Intelligent automation
17%
VR/AR
5%
Blockchain
1%
Other
6%
None of these
23%
What is your company strongly considering in the next 6-18 months?
Acquisition(s)
43%
M&A is a clear strategy for pivoting in the COVID-19 economy.
None of
these
25%
Corporate transformation/
restructuring
35%
Divestiture
11%
Investment from a financial sponsor
8%
Complete
sale
9%
Merger with like-sized business
9%
What is the biggest hurdle to your organization working at a faster pace?
What is hindering employee productivity the most?
Prove
In an April poll, 65% of executives said they will work faster and with more agility as a result of this crisis.
Lookback
Upskilling your employees
33%
Bandwidth due to hiring freeze, attrition, RIFs
24%
Employees not physically together in one place
30%
Legacy technology + Company culture/politics
27%
Burdens of
work-life
integration
23%
Disparate
data
18%
Regulations
15%
Social distancing requirements in-person
12%
Note: Respondents chose the top three hurdles.
Social distancing requirements and restrictions
40%
Remote working/work from their homes
37%
Increased workload due to attrition/RIFs at your company
27%
Responsibility for remote education/remote learning
21%
Social and societal issues
13%
New
technology
at your company
11%
Broadband
issues
10%
The election
/politics
9%
Other
5%
PREVAIL
How will the pandemic market crisis create a lasting impact on the U.S. economy?
When do you expect your company’s operations to stabilize?
We have it now
By the end of Q2 (April-June) 2020
Q3
(July-September) 2020
Q4
(October-November) 2020
7%
10%
33%
24%
26%
We have it now
By the end of Q3 (Sept. 30)
Q4
Q1
2021
Q2
2021 or beyond
23%
7%
9%
23%
38%
SEE WHAT THEY SAID IN APRIL
Respondents were asked to choose three
We will work faster and with more agility
Supply chains will be more local, not global
70%
65%
49%
39%
33%
27%
1%
Nationalism will rise and travel will decrease
Real estate will shift
Innovation will be disruptive and useful
Climate change decisions will alter
Education and distance learning will change
51%
75%
52%
37%
47%
40%
7%
See what they said in April
23% of respondents have tried none of these
Find out more about West Monroe’s framework to prevail in the post-pandemic world: Protect, Pivot, Prove, and Prevail
SEE MORE DATA
SEE MORE DATA
About the poll
About the respondents
back to top
West Monroe wanted to better understand the priorities and concerns among the C-suite to the market crisis that has emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 4-7, 2020, we surveyed 150 C-level executives at companies with a minimum of $250 million in annual revenue. West Monroe is a national business and technology consulting firm.
ABOUT THE POLL
Manufacturing/ Industrial
13%
Healthcare & Life Sciences
26%
Telecommunications
3%
Media/ Entertainment
2%
Hospitality/ Food Service
5%
Energy & Utilities
5%
Construction/ Mining
3%
Information Technology Services
6%
Consumer Packaged Goods/Retail
17%
Aerospace and Defense
2%
Public Administration/Government
0%
Professional Services
4%
Other
6%
9%
Financial Services
15%
Chief Executive Officer or President
28%
Chief Financial Officer
13%
Chief Operating Officer
29%
Chief Information Officer
15%
Chief Marketing Officer
17%
$250 million - $499 million
25%
$500 million - $999 million
41%
$1 billion - $3 billion
17%
More than $3 billion
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY
TITLE
TITLE
COMPANY'S
ANNUAL REVENUE
COMPANY'S
ANNUAL REVENUE
2021 or beyond