Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 11 December to 26 December 2023

These questions are for Wave 98 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 11 December 2023.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please tell us anything else about your business's current situation relating to topics covered in this survey: 

• Comments