10 - 16 May 2001

Gozitan business operators in wait-and-see phase of e-commerce

by Ivan Brincat

A total of 81 per cent of businesses in Gozo have a computer and 69 per cent are internet subscribers, according to a survey carried out by the Gozo Business Chamber.
The results show that 57 per cent use the computer for business research and 28 per cent for educational research. Only 18 per cent use it for marketing purposes, while 23 per cent use it for leisure. Thus more businesses use computers for leisure purposes than for marketing.
The survey results were announced by Gozo Business Chamber treasurer Joe Grech at a conference on the new economy and Gozo organised by Bank of Valletta last Friday.
While computer penetration in the construction industry and tourism is deemed to be 100 per cent, the percentage goes down to 89 per cent for traders in wholesale and retail, 88 per cent in industry and crafts and just eight per cent in agriculture and fisheries.
Eleven per cent of those questioned said they were selling their wares online. In the B2C (Business to consumer) there were 11 per cent selling on line while in B2B (Business to business) there were just four per cent.
Mr Grech said it was extremely alarming to note the very low percentage of businesses which used computers for the marketing of products, online sales and their company website.
He said the government, the ministry for Gozo, the GBC and all other constituted bodies should be concerned about the situation.
E-mail users in Gozo total 58 per cent among GBC members while 25 per cent have a website. Of these, 18 per cent have a static website while eight per cent have an interactive website.
Mr Grech said some Gozitan business operators are still in the wait-and-see phase of e-commerce. They are waiting for e-commerce applications to be more extensively used by the public.
He said many still believed in their traditional way of doing business. These ideas and concepts will change when the new generation of educated University students join their family business. A future mix between old and experienced entrepreneurship and adult motivated University ex-students will change the way current business ventures work.
Mr Grech said Gozitan SMEs had to be taught how to use electronic commerce and take advantage of it. He said export or die should become the norm rather than the exception.