E-Business Views Differ Across The AtlanticE-Business Views Differ Across The Atlantic

While the fall of the dot-com era has tarnished some of E-business' luster, many of the companies still engaging in business-to-business and business-to-consumer efforts are stronger than ever, even in a down economy. There's simply no better way to engage in collaborative, real-time connections with customers, suppliers, and business partners.

Making a global connection is tricky. American companies are more bullish about E-business than their European counterparts. A quarter of North American companies view E-business as the way that business gets done, according to Giga Information Group's Outlook Bleak For IT Solutions Demand In 2001-2002 report. Only 10% to 15% of European companies share this opinion.

Although adoption of E-business strategies is slower overseas, 45% of European and 43% of North American companies say it's having a significant impact on their operations. About two in five respondents agree that E-business will have a significant impact on the global economy.

While North American and European businesses say that there are definite benefits to E-business initiatives, North Americans are more hesitant, with 27% responding that their companies don't have an E-business strategy. Perhaps this is the fallout of the dot-com bust, as many North American companies are slower to throw precious investment dollars at uncertain strategies.

European businesses are twice as likely to have an E-business strategy at the enterprise level compared with North American companies. This implies that businesses overseas are taking a broader view of E-business strategies.

The biggest challenge European businesses face in the implementation of E-business strategies is a strong resistance to change. Many companies are finding it difficult to change employee and customer mind-sets on business-process and customer-service issues. One in four North American companies surveyed face this challenge, while 26% are finding systems integration to be the greatest barrier to overcome.

How important are E-business strategies to your companies and what challenges are expected? Let us know at the address below.

Lisa SmithManaging Editor, Research [email protected]

E-Business Strategies A Mainstay
The tight economy has limited E-business initiatives at some companies this year. However, not all investments or strategies have stalled. According to the E-business Strategies Are More Alike Than Different Across The Atlantic section of Giga Information Group's Outlook Bleak For IT Solutions Demand In 2001-2002 report, North American companies support E-business projects that simplify business processes and allow for stronger customer relationships.

While Europe continues to trail North America in the complexity of E-business applications, about half of European businesses surveyed are reengineering business processes, marketing, and conducting E-commerce as part of their current E-business strategies. European companies are also beginning to focus on customer-relationship management applications.