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This workshop delves into the challenges faced by European SMEs in embracing Internet services and offers practical solutions. While SMEs play a crucial role in the economy, their uptake of Internet technologies remains low. The workshop highlights the need for increased awareness, targeted training programs, and the dissemination of successful case studies to inspire adoption. Recommendations include ensuring easy access to Internet services, promoting e-commerce through public procurements, and fostering international coordination to enhance online transactions. By implementing these strategies, SMEs can leverage the power of the Internet to enhance their business activities and drive economic growth.
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Workshop 1 How to stimulate demand for Internet services among SME’s? Workshop results
the facts • SMEs constitute the backbone of the business community in all EU countries. • low levels of penetration of Internet among European SMEs. • the number of SMEs using Internet in business activities is growing very slowly. • ICT integrated in the business activity produce an increase of several points in economic growth in general.
diagnostic • lack of vision among SMEs about the importance of using Internet in their business activity. • it is not just a matter of costly investments or technical capabilities in SMEs but of transforming the concept of business as a whole, in particular marketing skills. • when becoming global through the use of Internet language can be a serious problem for many SMEs.
diagnostic (2) • Internet growth among SMEs should be a bottom-up process pushed by professional associations, chambers of commerce and local, national and international authorities. • raising awareness among SMEs that Internet use is vital for them is a process that must start before it is too late.
solutions • training in the use of new technologies is commonly seen as a mean to raise awareness about the importance of Internet among SMEs. Academic institutions could make an important contribution. • case studies with successful Internet stories in Europe should be widely circulated. • different types of SMEs (size, sector of economic activity, regional background) ought to be approached differently.
solutions (2) • becoming active in Internet does not require transforming yourself into a global player. • step-by-step introduction of Internet can be an easy process for many SMEs (first e-mail, second information gathering, then online retailing). • language concerns should not be such a problem when considering business-to-business relations through Internet. • a critical mass in market presence must be achieved.
recommendations • easy access to Internet services should be guaranteed for all small players at this stage. • local and national authorities ought to promote e-commerce among SMEs through requiring electronic procedures in future public procurements. • synergies among different local players must also be sought to help the bottom-up process of introducing Internet among SMEs.
recommendations (2) • international bodies should help trans-national transactions by producing common standards and policies (e.g. common consumer protection measures). • for the time being it would be desirable a laissez-faire period with no new regulations or obstacles to the progress of Internet. • international co-ordination is also necessary to prevent abuses and bad commercial practices.
