BUS LINK

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PAUL BLISS
E-BUSINESS CONSULTANT
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E-CommerceHype or Your Business Future
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E-commerce Hype or Your Business Future

• Internet Industry Predictions
• What does E-Commerce mean to the SME ?
• Barriers
• Benefits

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Is the Internet just a passing fad?
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Internet Market Forecasts 1998 - 2005
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Who is using the Internet ?

• More than 180 million users globally
• 1 million new web pages everyday
• 80,000 new users everyday

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Where does the UK stand ?

• 10,000 new users in the UK everyday
• 1 million people have made on-line purchases in
  last 6 months
• 15 of UK Adults have used the web
• Growth in the UK200 over next 5 years !

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What does our Government say ?

• Were in an era where the only constant in
  business is change
• If you dont see the Internet as an opportunity,
  it will be a threat. In 2 years time the
  Internet could be as commonplace in the office as
  the telephone. If youre not exploiting the
  opportunities of E-Commerce, you could go
  bankrupt
• Tony Blair - Sept 1999
• The Government is aiming to make 90 of its
  routine purchases online by 2001 is another sign
  of the growing importance of the Internet for
  business

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E-commerce Hype or Your Business Future

• Internet Industry Predictions
• What does E-commerce mean to the SME ?
• Barriers
• Benefits

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What is an SME ?

• Small to Medium Sized Company
• 25 Employees
• 1.5 million Turnover
• Growing

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Are SMEs coming to terms withthe Internet ?

• Firms with up to 20 employees represent 98 of UK
  businesses
• 20 of small businesses have Internet access
• 3 have their own websites

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Benefits to the small business are clear

• Doing more business in less time
• Saving money
• Better access to information
• Being ahead of the competition

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but what stands in their way

• Uncertainty
• New competitive threats
• Unquantified opportunity
• Nothing????

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Why the Difference ?

• Difficult to understand
• Not critical to survival today
• Lack of good advice
• Difficult to assess value-for-money

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Analysis of barriers

• Security
• Lack of Skills
• Cost
• Benefits?
• Source KPMG - 357 SMEs

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Whats the answer ?

• Buy from a reputable company
• Simple, low-cost Internet solutions
• Security
• Quality advice and support from local resellers
• Benefits explained in layman's terms

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are we about to see an explosion ?

• 36 SME's plan to be on-line within 12 months

Source Taylor Nelson Sofres 2000 SME's lt50
employees
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UK SME Web sites
Number of web sites
Today
Time
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Four steps to full e-commerce
e-commerceIntegration with existing systems
connectivity

TradingWeb Shop
PresenceWeb site
ConnectionAccessHostingemail
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Summary

• Growth in UK200 over next 5 years
• 36 SME's plan to be on-line within 12 months
• Simple, low-cost Internet solutions
• Quality advice and support from local resellers