The Douleutaras.gr presents new research on the use of technology in the technical professions sector in our country, in collaboration with the ELTRUN (Electronic Commerce and Electronic Business Laboratory) of the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB).
According to the relevant announcement, this is an initiative that focuses on more than 4,200 technical professionals, from 90 different specialties, with whom Douleutaras collaborates and, as a leader in the sector, demonstrates in practice its concern for the “next day.”
The data show that the sector is now moving into a new phase of digital maturity. However, with digital presence, online customer outreach, and technology tools rapidly taking on a greater role in professionals' daily operations, the lack of personnel remains the biggest obstacle.
At the same time, while reviews (reviews) play a pivotal role, with more than 50% of professionals finding the majority of their clientele online, most professionals state that the need for training in the field of new technologies is immediate.
The key findings of the research
- The lack of personnel emerges as the sector's biggest problem, at a rate of 67.7%, followed by inflation and rising prices at 54.8%. The main challenge in finding personnel is recorded as the lack of work consistency and professionalism at 68.1%.
- 9 out of 10 professionals state that they have a digital presence, with 84.6% being active on platforms such as Douleutaras.gr, 59.3% on search engines, 56.0% on Instagram, and 51.6% on Facebook, while only 6.6% state that they have no such presence at all.
- Digital advertising is now considered critical for the sector, as 77.2% characterize it as “very necessary,” while a total of 92.4% consider it important to a high degree.
- For 58.7% of professionals, more than half of their customers are now reached through online channels, a finding that shows how decisive the digital way of finding customers has become.
- Other users' reviews are considered the most important criterion for choosing a professional, at a rate of 91.2%, followed by the criterion of competitive pricing at 63.7%.
- In relation to the state and support programs, only 19.4% of professionals have participated in the past in state funding programs, while 80.6% have never participated. At the same time, only 10.8% consider the enrollment instructions clear or absolutely clear, while 89.3% either consider them “slightly” or “not at all clear,” or state that they “do not know.”
- Artificial intelligence has already begun to enter the sector's daily routine, but not yet in a mature way. 23.2% state that they use it always or often, while 26.3% state that they do not know how to use it. At the same time, 66.8% believe that artificial intelligence is helpful in their daily life, at least sometimes, while 48.9% do not consider it a threat at all to their profession.
Andreas Grammatis: “The professional must be visible”
The Andreas Grammatis, co-founder and CEO of the company, stated on the matter: “Today, it is not enough for a professional to be good at their job; they must be visible, inspire trust through reviews, and organize their daily routine with more modern tools.
At the same time, technology is advancing faster than the market's organizational readiness, something that also emerges from the research as the sector's most important structural issue.
The lack of personnel, the need for new skills, and limited access to understandable and practical support show that modernization is not only a matter of tools, but also a matter of investing in people.
And for us, given the position and role we hold, this is also the greatest challenge of the next day, both for the development of our company and for that of our sector.”
You can read the full research here.