Actinic Survey Finds Ecommerce Confidence Remains High Amongst UK SMEs
Release Date: 15 May 2002 | Source
15 May 2002 (A0203) ~ Today Actinic, the leading ecommerce software
supplier, announces the results of its second annual report on the status
of the UK ecommerce market amongst small and medium enterprises
(SMEs ). The key highlights show that ecommerce is still gaining acceptance
as an effective sales medium amongstSMEs ; that there has been a
significant leap in profitable sites; and that the importance of the
internet to business is still increasing. A PDF copy of the report is
available at http://www.actinicftp.co.uk/docs/ecreport02.pdf
The 2002 survey collected responses from 250 independently selected
organisations with 1 - 249 employees, all of whom had a live web site. Its
aims were to establish the adoption and intention to adopt online trading
amongst UKSMEs , and to monitor the experiences, expectations and
perceptions towards ecommerce.
Summary of Key Messages
Ecommerce still gaining ground amongst UKSMEs
The adoption of ecommerce amongstSMEs remains static at 26% of the sample
in 2002, versus 25% in 2001. A further 11% ofSMEs (who have not yet
implemented ecommerce) have firm plans to develop an online sales facility
during the next twelve months. Phil Rothwell, business development director
at Actinic comments, "This highlights that whilst many ecommerce sites have
ceased trading over the last year, new ecommerce sites are still being
set-up at a similar rate and many new sites are currently being
planned. Confidence is still out there."
Ecommerce profitability increases and fuels further development and upgrades
An impressive 72% of ecommerce sites claimed profitability during 2002,
over 59% in 2001. In addition 61% of respondents plan further development
to their ecommerce site. "Again, we see this as a reflection of an
increasing confidence amongst site owners for further investment," says
Rothwell.
The importance of the internet to business is still increasing
15 May 2002 (A0203) ~ Today Actinic, the leading ecommerce software
supplier, announces the results of its second annual report on the status
of the UK ecommerce market amongst small and medium enterprises
(
as an effective sales medium amongst
significant leap in profitable sites; and that the importance of the
internet to business is still increasing. A PDF copy of the report is
available at http://www.actinicftp.co.uk/docs/ecreport02.pdf
The 2002 survey collected responses from 250 independently selected
organisations with 1 - 249 employees, all of whom had a live web site. Its
aims were to establish the adoption and intention to adopt online trading
amongst UK
perceptions towards ecommerce.
Summary of Key Messages
Ecommerce still gaining ground amongst UK
The adoption of ecommerce amongst
in 2002, versus 25% in 2001. A further 11% of
implemented ecommerce) have firm plans to develop an online sales facility
during the next twelve months. Phil Rothwell, business development director
at Actinic comments, "This highlights that whilst many ecommerce sites have
ceased trading over the last year, new ecommerce sites are still being
set-up at a similar rate and many new sites are currently being
planned. Confidence is still out there."
Ecommerce profitability increases and fuels further development and upgrades
An impressive 72% of ecommerce sites claimed profitability during 2002,
over 59% in 2001. In addition 61% of respondents plan further development
to their ecommerce site. "Again, we see this as a reflection of an
increasing confidence amongst site owners for further investment," says
Rothwell.
The importance of the internet to business is still increasing
Another finding that emerged is that respondents currently consider
ecommerce to be the most important business use of the internet and they
also believe that this is set to become even stronger in the future. For
those businesses with no plans for ecommerce a key reason given was the
lack of customer demand, suggesting that it is still the consumer who is
driving companies onto the net. According to Rothwell, "Businesses are
doing the right thing in listening to their customers, but they haven't
grasped the potential benefits to themselves in terms of cost savings and
increased efficiency."
ecommerce to be the most important business use of the internet and they
also believe that this is set to become even stronger in the future. For
those businesses with no plans for ecommerce a key reason given was the
lack of customer demand, suggesting that it is still the consumer who is
driving companies onto the net. According to Rothwell, "Businesses are
doing the right thing in listening to their customers, but they haven't
grasped the potential benefits to themselves in terms of cost savings and
increased efficiency."
