SMEs in developing countries need support to address the challenges of adopting e-commerce technologies

Abstract

Although research indicates e-commerce offers viable and practical solutions for organizations to meet challenges of a predominantly changing environment, the few available studies related to SMEs in developing countries reveal a delay or failure of SMEs in adopting ICT and e-commerce technologies. The various factors identified as causes for the reticence can be broadly classified as Internal Barriers and External Barriers. This paper presents a model for barriers to adoption of ICT and e-commerce based on the results of an exploratory pilot study and survey. It identifies support for SMEs in Sri Lanka at different distinct levels of sophistication in SMEs with regard to ICT and e-commerce. It also determines a strong need for necessary support and discusses the availability of the support. Finally it proposes an initial framework to eTransorm SMEs.