The results of the study, conducted among 144 firms predominantly from the manufacturing sector, suggest Slovenia is lagging behind in digitisation and has to catch up.

Indeed, most companies plan to invest in digital in the coming years, the chamber's president Gertrud Rantzen told the press in Ljubljana on Wednesday.

The companies see employee qualifications, data protection and high costs as the biggest obstacle, while the main benefits include improved efficiency, better planning, and stronger competitiveness.

According to Rantzen, to facilitate the transition to digital it will be necessary to preserve tax credits for investments in R&D and investments in infrastructure.

It is also necessary to carry out a tax reform to reduce taxes on labour, which will facilitate the hiring of highly skilled staff, she said.