You're online, but is anybody out there?

A recent survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) once again highlighted the increased importance of the Internet for the modern business.

The CBI survey revealed a 50 per cent growth in internet traded business over the past year, while over two thirds of those surveyed felt tomorrow's market leaders would be those who had "mastered" ebusiness. Respondents also expected up to 20 per cent of next year's new business to come via the net.

Yet the survey also highlighted a less welcome scenario. Of the 89 per cent of respondents who claimed to have an ecommerce strategy in place, only 50 per cent knew if their customers were online. It appears that the market accepts that ecommerce is the future, but lacks the knowledge to embrace this opportunity.

Yet for those who embrace ecommerce intelligently, it can prove profitable.

Access Accounting's internet division manager, Marcus Russell, tells of a small company, Sioux Ceramics, currently using the AccessweB ecommerce solution to great effect.

"Sioux has been in business for four years and had achieved a level of turnover," he says. "However, in the last year it has seen its trading increase by 50 per cent as a result of ebusiness.

"Cost of software: £500. Cost of marketing: zero."

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!