At the base of the Webranking search, which monitors corporate communication trends on digital channels and evaluates transparency among the major companies at European level, are there annual surveys with investors, financial journalists and digital managers. The research conducted by Lundquist, now in its fifteenth Italian edition, promotes digital culture within companies and helps them understand how to improve communication to respond to the needs of stakeholders.
Webranking is one Transparency stress test evaluating digital communication; only slightly more than one in three companies pass the test, but fewer companies do not meet the minimum requirements.
The 2016-2017 ranking on the quality of online information is led by Snam, leader in Europe in the gas infrastructure system, followed by Hera Group and, in third position, from Eni, which loses the absolute primacy maintained for several years.
Among the best improver, i.e. the companies that most of all have improved their position compared to 2015, the highest leap in the standings is that of Amplifon, while Erg and Salini Impregilo enter the top 10. Worth noting is the iranking entry for the first time of Juventus and Ferrari.
A clear signal emerges from the 2016 ranking: for the first time, the full competition from medium-sized companies on the bigger ones. According to Lundquist, a company with significant expertise in the communication of financial contents, this means that to achieve communication excellence it is not important to have large budgets but to believe in transparency.
Compared to 2015, there are fewer companies that do not publish basic information. 36% of the companies analyzed passed the bar, 40% was postponed to September and 24% instead failed. This happens, according to Lundquist, because the financial crisis and growing competition have led companies to redefine their business and to grow in international markets where the network, in all its forms and platforms, it is always the best showcase.
Among the sectors that performed better in aggregate, this one stands out chemical, insurance and food & beverage, while insurance companies further outpace banks and financial services, coming in second place. Banks, even though affected by the financial crisis, have taken only small steps towards greater transparency.
La Corporate Social Responsibility, business ethics and sustainability have now become hot topics for all companies that want maintain its reputation, and consequently that of its own brand.
