Fact or Fiction: Are U.S.-based SMEs Advanced in Use of the Internet?: U.S.-based SMEs Have Not Progessed beyond Using Promotional Web Sites to that of Full Internet Integration
Because of its global reach, reduction of time restraints, and ability to reduce costs and increase sales, use of the Internet, the World Wide Web (WWW), and related technologies can be a competitive tool in the arsenal of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). Countries the world over are interested in the successful adoption of the Internet by SMEs since a vast majority of their employment comes from that sector. While SMEs were touted in the late 1990's amd early 2000's as being advanced in their use of eBusiness/eCommerce, there is little empirical evidence that SMEs in the United States have optimized their use of the Internet and are engaging in a fully-integrated eBusiness process. This research investigated the level of Internet usage for business solutions by small Minnesota-based manufacturers. The results of this research indicate that although a majority of respondents use the Internet in their business activities and/or have their own Web sites, the adoption of the...
