every four businesses started or increased their remote operations. the pandemic has also hastened corporate transformation, with over 30% of companies altering or transforming their output as a result of it. chemical manufacturers and wholesalers were the first to respond, with one in three expanding online business activity, beginning or boosting delivery of products and services, increasing remote employment, and changing manufacturing. across sub-regions, russian companies reported the highest rate of digital transformation, with more than half of them beginning or growing online activity, products delivery, and remote work. within central, eastern and southeastern europe, enterprises in slovenia (48%) and poland (44%), were the most innovative in 2022, while firms in slovakia (14%), were the least innovative. 67% of enterprises in these regions deployed at least one sophisticated digital technology, the same as the current eu average (69%).