DPD and PAIH: “Made in Poland” is gaining strength – it’s time to export!

• DPD Polska, together with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, are launching an educational platform czasnaeksport.eu - a tool which will support Polish SMEs in their foreign expansion.
• The SME sector is responsible for 99.8 percent of business in Poland, and nearly 20 percent of companies conduct commercial activities - this is a huge potential to be used in cross-border e-commerce.
• The launch of the report "Trends in the SME and e-commerce sector" from DPD Polska - over 70 per cent of SMEs in Poland see exports as an opportunity to significantly increase revenues, but there is a lack of experience in international business development and marketing, especially in the use of social media.

Data driven export

The sector of small and medium-sized enterprises accounts for 99.8 percent of business operating in Poland, and nearly 20 percent of these companies are engaged in commercial activities [1]. The European Union market, on the other hand, offers access to 450 million potential customers [2], of which 80 percent buy online, and over 50 percent regularly order products from abroad [3]. Therefore, this is a huge potential, making use of cross-border e-commerce and the development of modern technologies, including logistics technologies.

We believe in the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises! Poland has now been a member of the European Union for over two decades. This creates unique opportunities for the SME sector that wants to expand its business outside the country. Online shoppers value a wide selection and attractive prices. The possibility to buy products from another country - often unique and different from what is available locally, is an attractive possibility. It is worth noting that the "Made in Poland" brand is increasingly associated with very good quality. This is a strong advantage for Polish companies that want to establish themselves abroad. The data from the report not only showed us the scale of the challenges, but also confirmed that Polish entrepreneurs have a real chance to dynamically increase their presence on the global market. Therefore, our intention at DPD is not only to carry out the logistics process, but also to advise - so that logistics supports the development of companies and fits into their international expansion strategy - comments Łukasz Zembowicz, Sales and Marketing Director and Member of the Management Board of DPD Polska.

The decision to launch the czasnaeksport.eu platform was a natural consequence of the conclusions drawn from the report "Trends in the SME and e-commerce sector" by DPD Polska, which presented the scale of challenges and opportunities faced by Polish entrepreneurs. Already 70 percent of companies from the SME sector see the possibility of significantly increasing revenues in foreign expansion, and as many as 82 percent of those who are already doing so choose EU countries for this purpose. On the other hand, the value of "cross-border commerce" reveals a huge, still untapped potential - only 29 per cent of representatives of SMEs direct part of their sales outside Poland. The entrepreneurs who were surveyed point to specific barriers: 59 per cent are concerned about the cost of international shipping, 52 per cent legal and tax difficulties, and 47 per cent - risk associated with dishonest customers or returns from abroad.

So it's time to export!

The czasnaeksport.eu portal and the experts who participated in its creation provide information on key issues related to foreign expansion - from currency risk management, through the selection of appropriate sales platforms, payment methods, to the optimization of logistics processes. There you can find the characteristics of key European markets - both in a broader regional and national perspective. These include, among other things, a discussion of local laws, the specifics of consumer preferences, business practices, and the rules for doing business in the area.

The platform responds to the needs of Polish SMEs by offering a practical compendium of knowledge about expansion into foreign markets. Experts from DPD Polska and experts from the Polish Investment and Trade Agency share their practical experience there.

Polish companies have great potential to boldly enter foreign markets. Our mission at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency is to accompany them in this process - to support them with knowledge, experience and practical tools which will allow them to effectively develop their business abroad. Thanks to our presence in dozens of markets around the world, we are closely observing how global trade is changing. More and more entrepreneurs from Poland are recognizing that foreign expansion does not have to be risky, if it is approached with proper preparation and support from partners who can advise on key issues. I encourage you to use the knowledge and tools available on the portal. It is a place created with the aim of developing and building an even stronger position of Polish SMEs on international markets - says Magdalena Skarżyńska, PAIH’s Deputy Chairman of the Management Board.

Thanks to the combination of DPD's logistics knowledge with PAIH's expertise and market experience, Polish entrepreneurs receive comprehensive support in transforming expansion plans into concrete business activities. The platform also presents interesting examples of companies that have succeeded in international expansion, thanks to a combination of knowledge, strategy and good information of foreign markets.

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About the Polish Investment and Trade Agency

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) is an advisory institution that is part of the Polish Development Fund (PFR) Group. It is the first point of contact for exporters and investors. It operates both in Poland and through its network of offices around the world. It strengthens the recognition of Polish brands on international markets, promotes domestic products and services as well as technological solutions made in Poland. The agency helps entrepreneurs choose their optimal path of expansion abroad. It also supports the inflow of foreign direct investment to Poland and the implementation of Polish investments in the country. PAIH cooperates with the public sector and regional partners, offering, among other things: training, audit and promotion of investment properties, cooperation in the organization of business missions and communication support in the implementation of joint projects.