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NEWS ROOM : WSI NEWS

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Net Facts & Figures

UK e-tailing breaks new records - source: The Register, 13th Feb 2006
By 2007 there will be 1.1 billion Internet users worldwide. - Source: IDC, 2004
Worldwide broadband subscribers exceeded 150 million in 2004. - Source: Point Topic, 2004
Over 40% of all Americans have made a purchase online. - Source: NDP Group, 2004
Over 75% of online consumers do not care whether an online store is run by a large or small company. - Source: TNS, 2004
1.6 trillion was made via e-commerce in 2003; US$7.1 trillion is expected in 2007 - Source: IDC, 2004
A recent UK study indicated that 82% of Internet users go online to research products and services. - Source: UK National Statistics Office 2004
More than 60 million Europeans now shop online, an increase of 50% since 2003. - Source: Forrester, December 2004
US online retail sales will more than double over the next six years, reaching US$316 billion by 2010. - Source: Forrester, August 2004
61% of small and mid-sized enterprises believe the Internet is a significant advertising medium. - Source: The Kelsey Group, November 2004
In 2004, paid search advertising grew by 51% to US$3.6 billion in the US alone. - Source: eMarketer 2004

Internet helps small firms compete

16 January 2006

Internet access is helping small firms to be more competitive, as well as improving their employees' work-life balance, according to IT business click4cashflow.

The company's research found that 82 per cent of small firms believe working online improved their competitiveness. "From securing business finance to buying the office supplies, small firms are saving valuable fee-earning time by using the Web," said click4cashflow manager, Simon Button.

"In addition, regular contact via email is enabling small firms to make desk time more effective, reducing the amount of time spent tied up in face-to-face meetings."

A quarter of small firms stated that the Internet also allowed them to better manage their finances, by providing online access to their money 24-hours a day. "Small firms are clearly seeing the benefits of the Internet, and it makes sense that they want to maximise its potential by conducting more of their financial affairs online," added Button.

"They want solutions that are flexible to their needs and which can be implemented quickly without time-consuming meetings or paperwork."

The survey also found 88 per cent of small firms believe working online improves the work-life balance. "The increase of online working and improved remote access to emails means entrepreneurs can now enjoy time with their family and still catch up with emails," said Button.

Nick Isles, director of the Work Foundation, agreed that Internet access is providing people with the opportunity to work more flexibly. "According to our research, three quarters of workplaces offered some form of flexible working last year, compared with only ten per cent in 2000. The spread of Internet access is a key part of this.

"Offering employees more control over how they conduct their work is a good thing," he added. "However, the downside is that while many people are enjoying the benefits of flexible working, they are then not switching off from work in the way they used to when they worked from nine to five. Current technology means they are capable of being in contact with work around the clock."