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L’Internet au service des PME
Paris (France), 8-9 février 1999
Workshop 1
How to stimulate demand for Internet
services among SME’s?
Workshop results
L’Internet au service des PME
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Paris (France), 8-9 février 1999
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.
L’Internet au service des PME
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Paris (France), 8-9 février 1999
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.
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L’Internet au service des PME
Paris (France), 8-9 février 1999
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.
L’Internet au service des PME
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Paris (France), 8-9 février 1999
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.
L’Internet au service des PME
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Paris (France), 8-9 février 1999
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.
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L’Internet au service des PME
Paris (France), 8-9 février 1999
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.
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L’Internet au service des PME
Paris (France), 8-9 février 1999
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.