Picking the wrong e-commerce solution can become an expensive mistake costing thousands of pounds, a leading IT expert has warned.
Companies should be asking a series of specific questions of e-commerce suppliers or risk losing out on vital sales, according to Andrew Corbett, a director of UKITA, the UK's national IT trade association.
E-commerce will be the focus of a major exhibition in the Midlands next month aimed at showing business owners how e-commerce can help grow companies and increase profits. Small businesses which heavily use the internet to trade grow four times faster and create double the amount of revenue than those that do not, according to a recent study.
Supported by UKITA, which has networks across the country, the e-commerce event brings businesses owners face-to-face with the wealth of IT and web professionals. Corbett is a keynote speaker at the Shropshire E-commerce Expo, advising how to avoid the pitfalls of e-commerce, taking place on Thursday 10 March.
The internet contributes £100bn to the UK economy, equating to 7.2% of GDP
Andrew Corbett, UKITA director
Growth engine
He said: “A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group showed the internet contributes £100bn to the UK economy, equating to 7.2% of GDP, possibly rising to 10% of GDP, by 2015. The study demonstrates how much of a business growth engine the internet can actually be.
“A problem for businesses can be if they didn't choose the right e-commerce platform and supplier before embarking on the journey. Businesses will be less likely to find out they've made an expensive mistake by becoming a better customer themselves.
“The UK IT Association's Buyer's Guide to e-commerce systems is a simple checklist of questions businesses should be asking themselves and their prospective suppliers. At the event, we will run through the top 10 must-ask questions and visitors to the UKITA stand can pick up a free copy of the E-Commerce Buyers' Guide or see it at TheGoodITGuide.co.uk.”
The event on 10 March at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury is free to attend and includes seminars and workshops.
Organiser Dave Wyatt said: “Many none web-based business owners are experts in their industry but find it difficult to get coherent answers to issues relating to trading online. We have gathered together some of the region's finest creative, IT and web-related service providers to present a full day of informative, concise seminars. Everything you need to know about trading online is available in one place.”
