February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Only 10 percent of Irish businesses maximize use of the World Wide Web, even though Ireland’s image is one of being up to date with the latest technology.
In another statistic, 78 percent of small firms said they had no plans to use the Internet this year to boost turnover and profits.
While the majority network with each other, the survey uncovered a serious lack of conviction on the role the net can play in generating sales.
Carried out by 3Com Ireland, the survey found small firms, defined as those employing less than 50 people, are unconvinced about the potential value of selling online.
Those surveyed said e-commerce accounts for less than 10percent of their overall revenue streams. Furthermore, 78 percent of firms have no plans to trade online over the next 12 months.
But 91 percent are operating a Local Area Network system, which is seen as a positive by those who carried out the research. In a further indication of the poor state of IT in the sector, the spend for 2002 remained modest, with only 32percent increasing their investment.