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The Age of Agility
Expect the unexpected. Prepare to adapt.
LinkedIn’s B2B Technology Buying Survey - EMEA Report
The Age of Agility
Expect the unexpected. Prepare to adapt.
LinkedIn’s B2B Technology Buying Survey - EMEA Report
20/21 EMEA Report
This is the era where business resilience is key. 2020 propelled us into a new normal, with analysts now predicting that business resiliency will be the key differentiator of the 2020s.
We’re calling it the Age of Agility.
In its 7th year, LinkedIn’s largest survey of B2B tech buyers lays out a new and dynamic landscape in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, delving deeper into five key trends for technology marketers. These insights can fundamentally support you to protect and grow your businesses in the Age of Agility.
Survey methodology
LinkedIn’s survey includes data from 5,894 technology decision-makers in North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Of these, 39% (2298) respondents were based in EMEA.
To qualify, respondents must have researched, evaluated, bought, implemented or renewed a technology solution from one or more of the following subcategories within the last six months:
• Hardware for end users
• Software for end users
• Hardware for data centres
• Software for data centres
Respondent base includes samples from SMB, Mid-Market, and Enterprise companies. Respondent base spans representation from the following business functions: finance, marketing, sales, business development, research & development, product, supply chain/logistics, legal/compliance, HR, procurement, IT, engineering, and communications.
5 Trends for B2B technology marketers in the Age of Agility
Win in the 2020s by working smarter, not harder.
1. The Anonymous Buyer is here to stay
By the time they reach out to you, a significant proportion of potential buyers have already researched your company. And, many purchasing journeys are longer than marketers realise.
Back to all trends
42% of buyers take longer than a year to complete their purchasing journey
70% of potential buyers have already researched your company before they reach out to you
1 in 2 decision makers are involved in the early stages
How can you appeal to anonymous buyers in the early stages?
2. Established or Challenger? Buyers want both
Buyers want the innovation and flexibility offered by challenger brands. But they also want the reliability that experienced vendors can offer. You need to be both … at once.
Back to all trends
1 in 3 likely to try a new entrant
76% agree experience and knowledge is important
1 in 2 will consider a new entrant who is more innovative / meets business needs better than well-known brands
How will you prove you offer the best of both?
3. Say hello to the IT Facilitator
As business operations across become increasingly digital, IT decision makers have moved away from a top-down decision maker function to a key business partner that facilitates technology buying.
Back to all trends
Influence of IT function has dropped 75% since 2014
1 in 2 purchases involve IT
56% of influential business functions sit outside of the IT
How will you bridge the buyer/ facilitator divide?
4. The end user is your extended brand
Technology marketers are finding new ways to hero-create their end-user as potential buyers turn to social proof to increase their trust in a brand.
1 in 2 buyers in EMEA said brand advocates are a powerful influence in increasing product trust
1 in 3 say peer reviews increase trust
35% say case studies increase knowledge of products
How will you flip your marketing plans to include more social proof?
5. Open Frontier: The Post Sales Gap is up for grabs
When does the marketing stop? Thinking further than initial spend, buyers are investing in an outcome, not a product. In a crowded market, those who offer reliable and industry-specific post-sales support will have an edge.
Back to all trends
56% of technology buyers say that post-sales support is a major factor behind which brand they choose
47% of all technology buyers say past experience with the solution influences their purchase
5.07 months average implementation time at enterprise level
How will you take advantage of the post-sale gap?
Discover how EMEA B2B tech buyers compare to other regions in the Global Technology Buying Report
Explore more resources for technology marketers
[EMEA Report] The LinkedIn B2B Technology Buying Report 2019
Powering Customer Decisions from Acquisition to Renewal
[Interview] CMO Corner: Microsoft France
The CMO for Microsoft France on translating purpose into demand
Visit the International Tech Hub
Our research and additional resources are here to help you and your B2B tech marketers thrive in the new tech landscape