According to the report, only three nations are less effective than the UK when it comes to capitalising on the opportunities offered by new technology, namely Cyprus, Lithuania and Hungary.
As someone who works with technology suppliers and adopters on a daily basis, I should start by saying that I think this is nonsense, an opinion that is borne out when you read into the findings.
The report focuses on extremely specific metrics, such as how effectively businesses are able to use and integrate eInvoicing.
Although important, this cannot be described as a core factor when evaluating the extent and effectiveness of ecommerce usage.
Markedly, the report barely touches upon areas such as social media and search engine optimisation, both of which the UK does better than most, partially through necessity due to our common language with the USA.
In fairness, the report was not entirely negative. It confirmed that broadband connectivity is in line with the best in Europe and found that the availability of high-speed mobile broadband is well above average.
One area where we do trail behind, and I tend to agree on this point, is eGovernment, something which the UK has failed to capitalise on effectively. This has already been recognised as a priority by the coalition, which has appointed Lastminute.com founder Martha Lane-Fox as its “web tsar”.
In my experience, businesses within the UK and specifically within the North East are fully aware of the benefits of eBusiness, beginning with the need for a strong online presence.
The issue is that not all businesses, especially in traditional sectors, are fully aware of the efficiency and logistical benefits that modern technology can offer.
Any business can benefit, from an online booking system at your local hairdresser to fully automated production line at Nissan.
North East businesses should not be overly concerned by this report. This region has immense potential and scope for entrepreneurial growth, which technology can help to foster.
We need to focus on the key message that technology investment, researched and implemented effectively, will always pay for itself in a relatively short time.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Pascal Fintoni
Quelle/Source: nebusiness, 07.07.2011
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