Improvement observed in businesses as of 2026, based on research findings
In the face of a tense economic climate, companies in the DACH region are adapting by employing sophisticated extended financial and operational planning strategies. These strategies, which integrate operational metrics such as supplier reliability, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction into financial models, are helping businesses navigate complex trade uncertainties and transform them into competitive advantages.
The ERA Group, a consulting firm specializing in improving the competitiveness of medium-sized companies, public institutions, and non-profit organizations, is at the forefront of this shift. Founded in 1992, the ERA Group has over 1,000 partners in more than 60 countries, offering implementation-oriented consulting services across various areas such as energy procurement, packaging solutions, supply chain management, and more.
According to Matthias Droste, a representative of the ERA Group, these strategies are an important signal, suggesting that the crisis may force companies to re-evaluate their structures and find new ways to secure long-term competitiveness. High energy costs, excessive bureaucracy, and volatile markets are major challenges for companies in the DACH region, and the demands on politics are clear: reducing bureaucracy, reliable energy prices, and predictable framework conditions are prioritized.
One company leading the charge is Groupe SEB. Despite facing currency volatility and tariff-related cost pressures, Groupe SEB is making proactive growth investments in innovation and product launches. The company is focusing on strict discipline in operating expense management and agility in allocating growth drivers, expecting a return to growth and improved profit margins in the second half of 2025.
In the mobility sector, barriers such as fragmented ecosystems and insufficient startup funding slow adoption. To unlock the region’s mobility growth potential, efforts are being made to lower funding barriers and accelerate the pace of innovation adoption.
On the HR and learning systems front, despite economic slowdown concerns, companies are still investing selectively in growth regions including the DACH area, balancing cost reductions with strategic market consolidation and expansion.
Looking ahead, companies like Groupe SEB anticipate growth and margin improvement in the latter half of 2025, driven by operational leverage, improved currency effects, and ongoing innovation investments. The ERA Group's Managing Director, Dr. Lars Kleeberg, supports these findings and notes that they reflect the challenges currently faced by the German economy. Cost optimization, process digitization, and strategic diversification are considered the most important levers for crisis management.
The survey results also show a majority of the surveyed companies in various industries to be cautiously optimistic towards an economic recovery from 2026. However, sustainability and strategic personnel development are temporarily put on the back burner.
Dr. Kleeberg, who can be reached via the provided contact information, views this as an important signal, suggesting that the crisis may force companies to re-evaluate their structures and find new ways to secure long-term competitiveness. The ERA Group's services are in high demand as companies navigate these challenging times, positioning themselves for a strong recovery in the coming years.
[1] Source: news aktuell [2] Source: Groupe SEB [3] Source: ERA Group [4] Source: Various industries surveys
- The ERA Group, a consulting firm specializing in improving the competitiveness of various industries, has noted that the current economic crisis may force companies to re-evaluate their structures and find new ways to secure long-term competitiveness, especially in the finance and business sectors.
- In the DACH region, companies like Groupe SEB are employing extended financial and operational planning strategies, similar to those companies in the region are using, focusing on areas such as cost optimization, process digitization, and strategic diversification, in order to achieve growth and margin improvement in the latter half of 2025.
