e-Com Entry Point open for business

18/9/02
Small Business Minister Clive Brown today launched a program called e-Com Entry Point, which is designed to encourage small businesses to consider the benefits of adopting e-commerce into their day-to-day operations.
e-Com Entry Point will have a physical presence based at the Small Business Development Corporation, as well as an online presence so regional businesses can access it on the Internet.
Information is available in a user-friendly format via key topic areas like e-marketing, e-staff and e-buying.
"The State Government actively encourages small business to explore ways to increase their efficiency," Mr Brown said.
"E-commerce has been identified as an important way for small business to reach more clients and reduce the costs associated with operating a business.
"It is also an equally useful way of accessing Government information and services.
"The provision of the service comes hard on the heels of a Yellow Pages business report that highlighted the increasing return on investment small business operators are getting from applying e-commerce to their business."
The Yellow Pages report confirmed that e-commerce activity among small business had accelerated. More than 41 per cent of all small businesses in Australia use e-commerce for procurement, up from just 26 per cent last year.
The report also confirmed that the further a business had travelled down the online journey, the greater the likelihood that it had recovered its investment in e-commerce.
The percentage of small businesses that paid for products and services over the Internet had also grown significantly, almost doubling during the year, from 23 to 40 per cent. The proportion of small businesses which received sales orders over the Internet also rose during the year, from 19 to 29 per cent.
Mr Brown said research into the use of e-commerce clearly demonstrated that small business operators saw it as an important way to keep up with - or stay ahead of - competitors.
"Furthermore, another national report issued in July by the Australian SME e-Commerce Forum Taskforce identified that there was a need for simplification and demystification of e-commerce and the main focus should be on education and training," he said.
"The report also stressed the need for access to resource material.
"The e-Com Entry Point directly meets the small business needs identified in this report."
The Minister said those interested could visit the e-Com Entry Point at 553 Hay Street, Perth, check it out online at http://www.e-com.sbdc.com.au email e-com@sbdc.com.au or phone 1300 366 837 (1300 emover) or 1800 199 125 for country callers.
Minister's Office - 9222 9699