Companies overestimate crisis resilience: Where is risk management?

Companies overestimate crisis resilience: Where is risk management?

Austrian companies face significant challenges in terms of their resilience to crises and risk management. A recent study from 2025 shows that many companies overestimate their resilience and neglect important aspects such as data and technology. According to the survey by EY Austria, Crif and Business Circle, which surveyed 55 companies of different industries and sizes, 87.3% of companies classify themselves as very or very resilient to crises. Yet 38.2% do not measure their resilience and almost 50% of companies employ less than one full-time risk management person. Leadersnet reports that around 30% of smaller companies with fewer than 50 employees do not dedicate resources to risk management.

Companies currently view market risks (69.1%), technology risks (45.5%) and financial risks (43.6%) as major challenges. In the near future, 47.3% expect an increase in geopolitical risks, while 45.5% see potential difficulties in the human resources area. Despite the challenges, 70.9% of companies described their ability to respond as agile or very agile, although 34.5% did not adequately monitor external developments. However, a majority, 78.2%, use lessons learned from crises for strategic planning, indicating a certain willingness to learn.

Technology and AI in risk management

The importance of efficient technologies for risk identification is increasingly being recognized. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in particular is revolutionizing risk management by enabling fast and precise risk analyses. According to research from KPMG, almost 50% of companies are using AI to identify risks early and take appropriate action. KPMG highlights that operational risks are becoming increasingly important, highlighting the need for robust risk management.

AI technologies not only allow companies to process large amounts of data in real time, but also to identify patterns and potential threats at an early stage. Using machine learning and predictive analytics, companies can develop proactive mitigation strategies. Visure Solutions describes how AI plays a key role in identifying, assessing and prioritizing risks within an organization. These technologies are able to handle complex, data-driven environments, which often overwhelm traditional methods.

Outlook for the future

Going forward, it is important that companies not only recognize the benefits of AI and data analysis tools, but also ensure appropriate access to these technologies. Currently, 45.5% of companies do not have access to the necessary information for agile control and only 14.5% use complete real-time data. Therefore, 43.6% of companies plan to increase their use of data analysis tools and 32.7% want to implement automation solutions such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

In conclusion, the integration of modern technologies, especially AI, will be crucial to increase efficiency and resilience in relation to risks. Companies should evaluate their existing systems and ensure they are prepared for the challenges ahead. A willingness to change and implement new technologies could be the key to remaining competitive in an increasingly uncertain economic environment.