smes and electronic commerce
While globalization and technological changes create new opportunities for SMEs, at the same time they create new risks and threats. It is considered that SMEs, due to their flexibility, can meet customer expectations more quickly and they are more advantageous than large enterprises in utilizing electronic commerce Because of competition and pressures of software providers and system integrators, several SMEs search for new ways to increase their market shares by implementing electronic commerce solutions. Besides, while
large companies already have necessary personnel
and financial sources to implement electronic commerce,
capital limitations of SMSs restrict their
investments for electronic commerce (Stansfield
and Grant, 2003, p. 16).
On the basis of discussions so far, it is possible
to summarize the contributions of electronic
commerce to SMEs as the following. Electronic
commerce enables SMEs to enter new markets
and thus competition gains impetus. Since it
speeds up operations and lessens demand for
labor, it decreases costs. As it provides effective
communication between buyers and sellers, it
helps to improve service and product quality. Enhancing
data share it contributes positively to the
efficiency of work processes and overall economy
(Eikebrokk and Olsen, 2007; Van Beveren, 2002;
Levy et al., 1999).
Generally speaking, all of the contributions
listed above can be deemed convincing. For instance
the fact that with a lower investment SMEs
can reach the markets which they can never attain
through other ways seems rather feasible. Yet
when this issue is discussed elaborately, the matter
surfaces in a more complicated manner. Quite
probably SMEs will face a difficulty in employing
qualified human resources that can develop the
information system within its own structure. In
that case, the enterprise will be forced to employ