Two countries and one conclusion about local businesses

I left when I was young, with a clear idea of what I wanted. I came back with ten years’ experience, two countries in mind and one certainty: I wanted to be here.

For almost a decade, I lived and worked in Sweden. I started a business and learned, through trial and error, how businesses work there: precision, digitalisation, an obsession with data and doing things efficiently. Everything is organised, carefully measured and highly effective.

In Nordic countries, hospitality businesses have been operating cash-free for years, tracking every sale and getting to know their customers. Digital is not new there; it is the norm. That moment is arriving here, and those who move first will have a real advantage.

When I returned to the Costa Blanca, one of the first things that struck me was the enormous potential of local businesses — and how little of it is being used. Venues packed in summer that do not really know how much they have taken. Restaurants with queues at the door losing customers because payment takes too long. Businesses with an incredible story behind them that nobody knows about because they have no digital presence.

I do not say this as a criticism. I see it as a huge opportunity.

This area has something that comes at a high price in Sweden: culture, gastronomy, character, identity and a climate that encourages people to go out, spend and enjoy themselves for much of the year. What is sometimes missing are the tools and the approach to turn all that into a sustainable business.

That is what I will be writing about here every week. This area has everything it needs; all that remains is to take the next step.