Business Insights and Conditions Survey questions: 18 March 2024 to 1 April 2024

These questions are for Wave 105 of the fortnightly Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS) dispatched on 18 March 2024.

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

Is your business stockpiling any goods or materials?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

What are your business's expectations for capital expenditure between April and June 2024?

• Capital expenditure will increase

• Capital expenditure will stay the same

• Capital expenditure will decrease

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Why is your business expecting to authorise capital expenditure between April and June 2024?

• For replacements

• To expand capacity

• To increase efficiency

• To provide new services

• To reach new customers

• To use new technology

• Other

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Which of the following, if any, do you expect to limit your business's capital expenditure between April and June 2024?

• Inability to raise external finance

• Inadequate return on proposed investment

• Shortage of internal finance

• Shortage of labour

• Uncertainty about demand or business prospects

• Other

• Not sure

• Not expecting any limits to capital expenditure

Did your business invest in plant and machinery between January and March 2024?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure      

Did your business use the full expensing capital allowance on qualifying plant and machinery investments between January and March 2024?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

Is your business concerned about the impact climate change may have on the business?

• Yes, very concerned

• Yes, somewhat concerned

• No, not concerned

• Not sure

Which of the following actions, if any, has your business taken to protect the environment?

• Has a climate change strategy

• Has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target

• Has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target which includes supply chain

• Has a nature or biodiversity strategy

• Has a nature or biodiversity target

• Has a nature or biodiversity target which includes supply chain

• Monitors climate-related risks

• Monitors nature or biodiversity-related risks

• Publishes an annual sustainability report

• Other

• Not sure

• None of the above

Which of the following actions, if any, have you taken to reduce your business's carbon emissions?

• Adjusting heating and cooling systems

• Electrifying your vehicle fleet

• Installing a smart meter

• Installing charging points

• Installing your own renewable electricity or heating

• Insulating your buildings

• Introducing a cycle to work scheme

• Switching to LED bulbs

• Other

• Not sure

• No actions have been taken to reduce emissions

Which of the following artificial intelligence technologies, if any, does your business currently use?

• Autonomous vehicles

• Data processing using machine learning

• Image processing using machine learning

• Robotics

• Text generation using Large Language Models

• Visual content creation

• Other

• Not sure

• Business does not currently use artificial intelligence technologies

What does your business currently use artificial intelligence technologies for?

• Develop a new product or service

• Explore a new market

• Improve business operations

• Provide, or personalise, products or services to customers

• Other

• 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

• Not sure

• Not applicable

Which of the following artificial intelligence technologies, if any, 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

• 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

• Explore a new market

• Improve business operations

• Provide, or personalise, products or services to customers

• Other

• 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

• 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

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

• Comments