1. Survey information
These questions are for Wave 98 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 11 December 2023.
Back to table of contents2. Trading Status of Your Business
Which of the following statements best describes your business's trading status?
Currently fully trading
Currently partially trading
Paused trading but intends to restart in the next two weeks
Paused trading and does not intend to restart in the next two weeks
Permanently ceased trading
3. Exporting
Which of the following statements best describes your business's exporting status?
Exported in the last 12 months
Exported more than 12 months ago
Never exported but have goods or services that could be developed for export
Never exported and do not have goods or services suitable for export
Not sure
In November 2023, did your business export to additional countries compared with this calendar month last year?
Yes, to countries within the EU
Yes, to non-EU countries
Yes, to both EU and non-EU countries
No
How did your business's exporting in November 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Exported more
Exporting stayed the same
Exported less
Business was unable to export
Not sure
Did your business experience an increase in any of the following exporting challenges in November 2023, compared with the previous calendar month?
Additional paperwork
Change in exchange rates
Change in transportation costs
Customs duties or levies
Destination countries changing their border restrictions
Disruption at UK borders
Finding information on how to export
Lack of hauliers to transport goods or lack of logistics equipment
Reduced demand for products and services
Time taken for checks at the border
Work permit or visa restrictions, or lack of mutual recognition of professional qualifications
Other (Please describe)
Did not experience an increase in any exporting challenges
4. Importing
Which of the following statements best describes your business's importing status?
Imported in the last 12 months
Imported more than 12 months ago
Never imported
Not sure
In November 2023, did your business import from additional countries compared with this calendar month last year?
Yes, from countries within the EU
Yes, from non-EU countries
Yes, from both EU and non-EU countries
No
How did your business's importing in November 2023 compare with this calendar month last year?
Imported more
Importing stayed the same
Imported less
Business was unable to import
Not sure
Did your business experience an increase in any of the following importing challenges in November 2023, compared with the previous calendar month?
Additional paperwork
Change in exchange rates
Change in transportation costs
Custom duties or levies
Disruption at UK borders
Finding information on how to import
Lack of hauliers to transport goods or lack of logistics equipment
Suppliers not customs ready
Time taken for checks at the border
Other (Please describe)
Did not experience an increase in any importing challenges
5. Supply Chains
Was your business able to get the materials, goods or services it needed from within the UK in November 2023?
Yes, the business was able to get the materials, goods or services it needed
Yes, but the business had to change suppliers or find alternative solutions
No, the business was not able to get materials, goods or services needed
Not applicable
Did your business experience any global supply chain disruption in November 2023?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
What was the main reason for global supply chain disruption?
Conflict in Ukraine
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Increased costs
Shortage of hauliers and carriers
Shortage of materials
UK exiting the EU
Other transportation issues
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
6. Sending goods
Has your business sent goods from GB to Northern Ireland in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
Not sure
In November 2023, how did the volume of goods your business sent from GB to Northern Ireland compare with the previous calendar month?
Volume increased
Volume stayed the same
Volume decreased
Stopped sending goods to Northern Ireland
Not sure
Not applicable
Please give more details about why the volume of goods sent from GB to Northern Ireland changed in November 2023:
- Comments
7. Artificial Intelligence
Which, if any, of the following artificial intelligence technologies does your business currently use?
Autonomous vehicles
Data processing using machine learning
Imagine processing using machine learning
Robotics
Text generation using Large Language Models
Visual content creation
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Business is not currently using artificial intelligence technologies
What does your business currently use artificial intelligence applications for?
Develop a new product or service, or explore a new market
Image processing using machine learning
Improve business operations
Provide, or personalise, products or services to customers
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Not applicable
How did your business adopt these artificial intelligence technologies?
Developed in-house
Outsourced to external providers or third parties
Through purchase of external software or ready-to-use
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Not applicable
Which, if any, of the following artificial intelligence technologies does your business plan to adopt within the next 3 months?
Autonomous vehicles
Data processing using machine learning
Image processing using machine learning
Robotics
Text generation using Large Language Models
Visual content creation
Other (Please describe)\ Not sure
Business does not plan to adopt artificial intelligence technologies in the next 3 months
What does your business plan to adopt artificial intelligence technologies for?
Develop a new product or service or explore a new market
Image processing using machine learning
Improve business operations
Provide, or personalise, products or services to customers
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Not applicable
In the last 3 months, which, if any, of the following factors have prevented or delayed your business in the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies?
Cost
Difficulty identifying business use cases
Employee concern about any potential impact of using artificial intelligence technologies
Level of expertise in artificial intelligence
Product or service availability
Security concerns
Uncertainty about government regulations or industry standards
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Business has not attempted to use artificial intelligence technologies
Business has not been prevented or experienced delays in the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies
8. Workforce trends
On average, how did employees' hourly wages in November 2023 compare with employees' hourly wages in the previous calendar month?
Wages increased
Wages stayed the same
Wages decreased
Not sure
Is your business currently experiencing a shortage of workers?
Yes
No
Not sure
Not applicable
How has the shortage of workers affected your business?
Employees working increased hours
Business had to pause trading entirely
Had to pause trading of some of the business
Business had to recruit temporary workers
Unable to meet demands
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
Business has not been affected
9. Industrial action
Was your business affected by industrial action in November 2023?
Yes, the business was affected
No, the business was not affected
Not sure
Not applicable
Prefer not to say
How was your business affected by industrial action in November 2023?
Business was unable to obtain necessary goods
Business was unable to obtain necessary services
Business was unable to operate fully
Part or all of the workforce were directly involved in industrial action
Workforce had to change their working location
Workforce were unable to perform their roles
Other (Please describe)
Not sure
10. Comments
Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey:
- Comments
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