Are SMEs meeting the challenge of integrating e-commerce into their businesses? A review of the development, challenges and opportunities

  • Authors:

  • Patricia W. Pool;John A. Parnell;John E. Spillan;Shawn Carraher;Donald L. Lester

  • Affiliations:

  • John Massey School of Business, Southeast Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK 74701, USA.;School of Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA.;The Pennsylvania State University-DuBois Campus, DuBois, PA 15801, USA.;School of Business, Cameron University, 2800 West Gore Blvd, Lawton, OK 73505, USA.;Jennings Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37128, USA

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of Information Technology and Management
  • Year:
  • 2006

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Abstract

While e-commerce technology has spread rapidly throughout large firms in the developed world, growth among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) has not been as pervasive. This paper discusses the current state of e-commerce development in SMEs, outlines challenges faced by many SMEs and proposes several options for e-commerce integration. Specific opportunities in the areas of customer service and relationship management, supply chain management and e-commerce support are discussed.