E-commerce for SMEs
Prasanna Raman
NST: Computimes-22/11/01
AS electronic commerce (e-commerce) becomes the way to trade in the future, large corporations with finances and technical expertise find it easier to jump on the e-business bandwagon by acquiring the technology needed.
AS electronic commerce (e-commerce) becomes the way to trade in the future, large corporations with finances and technical expertise find it easier to jump on the e-business bandwagon by acquiring the technology needed. Smaller enterprises without the finances and expertise, however, may need to watch from the sidelines before they are “equipped” to fight for their share of the e-marketplace as well.
Wanting to understand the challenges small and medium industries (SMIs) face in embracing e-business, Cordoda Corporation Sdn Bhd, a local network service provider and e-business enabling solutions provider, carried out a survey among 150 small and medium entreprises (SMEs) to find out what they would require to take their business online.
The SMEs surveyed ranged from the manufacturing, retail through to professional services and speciality goods industries.
Based on the findings of the survey, says Cordoda’s chief executive officer Shane Hodge, Cordoda’s SMI solutions unit put together an e-commerce package that will enable SMEs to do online trading.
“The results of the survey revealed that the SMI community had the fear of buying technology and were generally unsure of what IT tools to spend on.”
Simple e-solutions. Although there’s no standard out-of-the-box solution that fits all SMEs, Hodge says Cordoda has managed to put together a e-commerce package ranging from RM3,000 to RM10,000 that can help SMEs get started with their business on the Internet. The SMiLE package comprises hardware, consultancy and training and caters from simple to more sophisticated e-solutions.
“The standard e-business package comprises Internet access installation and set-up, Web-based e-mail accounts, Web hosting with standard storage, domain name registration, interactive Web site with database engine, online sales catalogue, payment gateway direct to customer’s account, and registration with major search engines,” Hodge explains.
VoIP account.
In addition to that, Cordoda also offers Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) account to help SMIs lower their cost of long-distance international phone calls and fax and VoIP pre-paid cards for reduced phone charges.
“Even with the technology made available, without the knowledge and skills, these entreprises will not be able to reap the full benefits. As such, we focus on providing the necessary training as well,” says Hodge, citing Cordoda’s free basic Internet skills training for its customers as an example.
The SMI solutions unit, he elaborates, will provide implementation, on-going maintenance support, and consulting to help SMEs harness the full range of benefits from their e-commerce applications.
Next month, Cordoda plans to take its SMiLE package on a roadshow to all major cities in the Peninsular. The Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)-status company will work closely with the Small and Medium Industries Association to offer SMEs e-business capability.
Cordoda expects about 300 SMEs to buy the package at the end of the roadshow around March or April next year.
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