Azets Ireland's latest quarterly barometer shows that 53% of small firms, with between 10 to 49 employees, and 50% of micro firms, under 10 employees, identified geopolitical volatility as their primary risk. Azets Ireland said that larger businesses rank geopolitical risk fifth among their concerns, indicating greater resilience to ongoing disruption. However, smaller firms appear particularly exposed, with limited capacity to absorb sustained cost increases or hedge against volatility. In response to the uncertainty, 66% of firms report increasing digitalisation, 60% said they plan to increase overall investment in operations, while 58% are investing in automation and AI. The findings of the report were based on a survey of 222 firms conducted between February and March this year

Source: Irish Examiner April 09, 2026 23:04 UTC