Insights

The annual report is the most trusted source for information about a listed company according to our annual Capital Market survey, followed by the corporate website. We've dug out some of the most important facts about annual reports to answer the questions "how are they read?" and "what content is most important?".

As we head into the new season of annual report preparations, companies are at a turning point in how they use technology in corporate reporting. EU law now requires listed companies to report their financial statements in a new, digitised format. But what is this format and what does it mean for communications teams creating the annual report?

Public companies put considerable effort into producing corporate reports each year. Typically, these are designed with magazines as inspiration with exciting design patterns that work well in professionally printed productions. We recommend taking a step back and thinking about how you design, package and distribute your report in a way that takes advantage of how it will be consumed.

The days of the printed report have been numbered for some time as user behaviour and regulations have shifted. For us, digital reports serve audiences better by creating a more impactful and enjoyable experience. They are also more efficient to produce and give you the means to track performance and keep improving. 

The annual report is frequently read in a digital format, rather than as a printed document. When we asked analysts, investors and journalists how they consume annual reports, the vast majority said they either read it as a PDF on a screen or as an online report. So, what is the best way to format reports for screen displays?