E-Commerce and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in S.E.Wales

E-Commerce and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in S.E.Wales

Brychan Thomas, Geoff Simmons, Gary Packham, Christopher Miller
ISBN13: 9781605669984|ISBN10: 1605669989|EISBN13: 9781605669991
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-998-4.ch005
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MLA

Thomas, Brychan, et al. "E-Commerce and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in S.E.Wales." E-Commerce Adoption and Small Business in the Global Marketplace: Tools for Optimization, edited by Brychan Thomas and Geoff Simmons, IGI Global, 2010, pp. 86-99. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-998-4.ch005

APA

Thomas, B., Simmons, G., Packham, G., & Miller, C. (2010). E-Commerce and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in S.E.Wales. In B. Thomas & G. Simmons (Eds.), E-Commerce Adoption and Small Business in the Global Marketplace: Tools for Optimization (pp. 86-99). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-998-4.ch005

Chicago

Thomas, Brychan, et al. "E-Commerce and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in S.E.Wales." In E-Commerce Adoption and Small Business in the Global Marketplace: Tools for Optimization, edited by Brychan Thomas and Geoff Simmons, 86-99. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2010. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-998-4.ch005

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Abstract

One region where e-commerce will have a particular impact for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over the next few years is South East Wales (SEW). In response to this a survey was undertaken by the Welsh Enterprise Institute (WEI) in collaboration with the Open University Business School and Rennes ESC in Brittany to assess the e-commerce activity of firms within the SEW area. The survey was conducted using a database of 3,000 members provided by the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry and a survey form was sent to the sample as a postal questionnaire. Results from the survey demonstrated that nearly all firms used some form of Information Communication Technologies (ICT). The results also highlighted that a significant proportion of the sample (77%) were currently using a Web site to increase trade or improve opportunities for e-commerce. Furthermore, it was observed that firms in the personal services, distribution and transport industries were less likely to utilise a Web site than firms in the manufacturing, business services and hospitality industries. Despite the large proportion of firms that had a Web site, only 11% of businesses reported that their site enabled customers to order and pay for products online although 42% of respondents considered e-commerce to be important for their business’ future. This chapter therefore argues that these results clearly underpin the necessity for an e-commerce policy in SEW for the future competitiveness of the area. There are real opportunities to develop and diversify the SEW economy through e-commerce.

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