There are several key reasons that businesses are adopting the Internet as a primary business tool:

1. The Internet gives you a competitive edge

Your competitors are almost certainly either already online, or planning to get online. The adoption of business on the Internet is pervasive through the Australian market place. Businesses move to where the market is, and the market is online by sheer numbers. Over two-thirds of Australians currently use the Internet. The average household connects to the Internet 12 times per week. These people could be YOUR customers.

Operating electronically offers business the opportunity to enjoy a substantial competitive edge over those businesses that are not.

2. Business on the Internet is widespread in Australia

The rate at which small businesses in Australia are getting online has also risen from 75 per cent to 79 per cent since last year. The number of respondents who believed that the Internet had made their business more effective rose from 51 per cent in 2001 to 60 per cent in 2002. (Source: NUA Internet Surveys, 31 July 2002)

Online revenue of Australian companies in 2001-2002 was $43 billion. This represents a 43 per cent increase over the previous financial year. (Source: Cisco Systems, Built for Business II, October 2002)

According to a study conducted by the Yellow Pages Business Index 56 per cent of Australian SMEs have already recovered their financial investment in online business. The proportion of SMEs that believe the Internet fulfils their expectations has risen by 18 per cent to 68 per cent compared to a year ago. (Source: Yellow Pages Business Index, July 2002)

3. The Internet provides new ways to generate revenue

Small businesses that make greater use of the Internet can enjoy positive outcomes and in turn improve productivity throughout the Australian economy. An example is Textbooks, a Melbourne business which stocks specialised and unique books. The company set up a Web site. In its first year, the Web site generated an additional revenue stream of online sales totalling $120,000.

4. The Internet reduces operating costs

IDC’s eWorld 2002 survey revealed that 42 per cent of 2,000 companies questioned said their Internet e-commerce operations were a response to customer demand and believed that using the Web boosted customer service. The top benefits were “efficient internal processes, improved customer service and coordination with suppliers, and improved competitive position”.

A global hotel chain in Australia generates savings of between 7 per cent and 11 per cent or approximately $30,000 to $50,000 per month, after purchasing a portion of its inventory through a business-to-business exchange. Through the exchange, the hotel chain purchases all goods and services required for the operation of a hotel. Savings are made in time and costs. Time is saved because it takes less time to place orders and in one instance, a national supplier improved its price by 15 per cent as the hotel chain would provide total business nationwide. (Source: australia.internet.com, 26 August 2002)

Conclusion

The number of people connecting to the Internet is rising and the numbers of businesses reaping the benefits from electronic trade are rising. Your competitors are enjoying these benefits.

The traditional barrier has been erased.

SiteSeven is the answer for SME businesses - we represent a cost effective and highly professional way to enter the most exciting marketplace on earth.