These are the results of the third FeWeb Corona Impact Barometer conducted on 3 April 2020. We counted 56 participants. We have analysed these results not only on differences between types of digital companies (web&app agencies, marketing&advertising agencies, other digital services companies), but also on the size of the companies (number of Full Time Equivalents - FTE).

1. The sales meetings

We have asked the market about the number of sales meetings done during the past week and planned for the week to come. 3 out of 4 companies see a negative trend for sales meetings being done and planned.

Larger companies experience a higher drop in 'sales meetings done' (less than 50%: 35% for 1 to 5 FTE vs 60% for 25+FTE companies). Agencies experience a higher drop in 'sales meetings done' than other digital services (75% of agencies report less sales meetings done vs 52% for digital services).

Larger companies experience a higher drop in 'sales meetings planned' (less than 50%: 41% for 1 to 5 FTE vs 60% for 25+FTE companies). Agencies experience a higher drop in 'sales meetings planned' than other digital services (80% of agencies report less sales meetings planned vs 52% for digital services)

2. Offers sent & approved

Here also, 3 out of 4 companies see a negative trend in offers sent and approved.

Freelancers and 10-to-24 FTE companies experience a higher drop in quotes approved than other companies (less than 50%: 41% for freelancers and 75% for 10-to-24 FTE companies vs 37% as average). 87% of the marketing&advertising agencies and 70% of the web&app agencies experience a drop in approved quotes vs 47% for other digital services (65% average).

3. Turnover evolution

The turnover forecast was stable negative for all types of digital companies: 2 out of 3 digital companies experienced a negative trend. But there's also some good news: 1 out of 2 marketing&advertising agencies experience no change or a higher turnover (average: 37%). 1 out of 10 marketing&advertising agencies report a 0 to 25% higher turnover. 12% of the freelancers and 9% of the 5-to-9 FTE companies report a 0 to 25% higher turnover.

Figures for 25+ FTE companies

• 20% has a turnover that dropped more than 50%
• 40% has 25 to 50% less turnover
• 20% has 0 to 25% less turnover

Figures for 10-to-25 FTE companies

• 25% has a turnover that dropped more than 50%
• 25% has 25 to 50% less turnover
• 17% has up to 25% less turnover
• 33% report no change in turnover

4. Invoices & payment

67% of the payments by clients are done within the payment period. 9% of clients have asked for a delay of payments. 16% of the digital companies have asked their suppliers to delay payments. These figures are stable during the 3 edtions of the survey.

Freelancers report the best figures: 78% of their invoices are paid within the payment period.

Figures of 25+ FTE companies

• 46% of payments are within the payment period
• 3% of clients have asked for delay in payment
• 20% of companies have asked their suppliers to delay payments

Figures of 10-to-25 FTE companies

• 60% of payments are within the payment period
• 21% of clients have asked for delay in payment
• 17% of companies have asked their suppliers to delay payments

5. Internal organisation & business continuity

Almost all companies oblige telework. 

As for the possibility of temporary unemployment, we see a trend were more digital companies have actually implemented this. The first week we saw that only 18% had applied temporary unemployment, a figure that has doubled now. On the other hand, we see that companies who have not considered temporary unemployment in the first week have not changed their opinion in the second or third week.

All 25+ FTE companies have invoked temporary unemployment, while only 58% of 10-to-25 FTE companies have done so. 62,5% of the marketing&advertising agencies have applied temporary unemployment, while only 35% of the web& app agencies and 39% of other digital services companies have done so.

As for asking staff to take holidays, more digital companies are considering this, but have not yet done so. 60% of 25+ FTE companies have asked staff to take holidays, while only 8% of 10-to-25 FTE companies have asked to do that. In 2 to 9 FTE companies, no companies have asked to take early holidays. 

6. Forecasts

Most respondents think that the lockdown will end between the end of April and the end of May. Only 1 out of 10 respondents think it will be even later. 

1 out of 2 companies foresee a drop in annual turnover of 0 to 25%, only 1 out of 10 companies think there will be no loss. 40% of 25+ FTE companies forecast a loss in turnover of 0 to 25%, 60% forecast a loss between 25 and 50%. 12,5% of the marketing&advertising agencies foresee no loss in 2020.

3 out of 4 companies plan to keep all staff. But that figure drops for larger companies:

• 1 out of 2 of the 10-to-25 FTE companies plan to keep all staff, 17% will cut staff up to 10% and 33% plan to cut staff with 10 to 15%
• only 1 out 5 for the 25+ FTE companies plan to keep all staff. 40% of these companies will cut up to 10% of the staff and 40% plan to cut 10 to 15% of the staff. 
   

Sources:

• Results of 20 March 2020: https://feweb.typeform.com/report/Kzo4iV/HAoexPPLnz3wkYfJ
• Results of 27 March 2020: https://feweb.typeform.com/report/adruj6/IMY30aCH0IhdgmKM
• Results of 3 April 2020: https://feweb.typeform.com/report/Y2DLyJ/QAleh91D9Gqyi9Df