Dutch SMEs unimpressed with impact of Internet on business

An end-of-year survey in the Netherlands claims that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are not satisfied with the effect of the Internet on their business.

The survey was carried out by ICT company Syntens, which supports Dutch SMEs on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Among the SMEs interviewed, 66 per cent were mildly satisfied with the effect of the Internet on their business, while only 26 per cent claimed that the Internet had a positive impact. The remaining eight per cent found the Internet wholly unsatisfactory.

However, 28 percent of the SMEs interviewed were optimistic about a good upturn regarding online payment systems in 2003, while 18 per cent predicted that mobile e-commerce (m-commerce) would be the most important ICT development in 2003.

According to the survey, 25 per cent of companies expect a return to more basic methods for commercial web sites in 2003.

For further information: http://www.syntens.nl/