
- They are embracing web-based infrastructure
- They are using online business tools to ‘go global’
- 80% say online payments tools make expansion easier
UK online startups go global from the outset
“By breaking down barriers to selling online and allowing online businesses to flourish internationally, we hope to unlock internet commerce—and, with that, lift the GDP of the British internet economy.” – Iain McDougall, UK Country Manager, Stripe“The internet and borderless technology have drastically changed the landscape for UK businesses,” says McDougall. “Britain’s new generation of high-growth online businesses are pioneering a tech-first, export-oriented economy,” he continues. “These ‘Global Natives’ will be the future of the UK economy,” he adds.
Digital first rules: Testimony from a UK based tech entrepreneur
“Without internet-based SaaS tools, our business and a lot of others simply wouldn’t exist to the standard and scale that they do today. It’s often internet-based tools that help us to do business internationally.” – Nikolay Georgiev, Global Strategy Manager, Airsorted“It’s often internet-based tools that help us to do business internationally,” says Georgiev. ” Stripe helps us remain compliant globally when it comes to payments, this is one less regulatory concern for us to worry about so that we can focus on growing the business and delivering a good experience for our clients,” he continues.
Brexit could still be a barrier to expansion
It’s not only bulky, goods-based export businesses that could suffer from a tough Brexit climate. The research also shows that British online businesses are set to take a more cautious approach due to the barriers that Brexit may produce.“A new wave of export-oriented online businesses in the UK are challenged by protectionist measures, tariffs and poor government support on immigration.” – Stripe
They will be more cautious
According to the statistics, only 28% of online businesses in the UK said they would “dramatically” expand their global outreach in the next year. – This is below the global average of 46% Why? Brexit has to be the reason here. This is evidenced in the fact that 44% of online businesses in the UK said they would “slightly” expand, which is higher than the international average of 34%, suggesting that digital businesses, like other sectors, may be scaling down their export strategies to see how Brexit pans out. They’re citing regulatory barriers (42%), government tariffs (35%) and taxes (34%) as the top factors why it would be harder to run a global business from the UK over the next year. – You don’t have to read between the lines here, it’s Brexit uncertainties that are the cause for this growing caution among ‘digitally native’ SMEs. Further to this, only 27% said that government support on international expansion was good, or excellent in the UK. This was the third lowest of all countries surveyed, suggesting that they don’t carry much hope that the post-Brexit government will help them facilitate their global export goals.Share this story