An Exploratory Comparison of Electronic Commerce Adoption in Large and Small Enterprises

Abstract

This study compares the reasons why small and large companies are adopting electronic commerce (e-commerce) and compares the benefits realized from the adoption of e-commerce by these two groups of companies. Two surveys that were undertaken contemporaneously on the use of e-commerce by small and large companies in the UK were used as the empirical basis for this study. The study found that the use of e-commerce for responding to competitors, providing enhanced customer services and improving relations with suppliers was driving the uptake by smaller businesses to a greater extent than by their larger counterparts. Only in the area of improved operational efficiency did larger businesses express greater interest in adopting e-commerce. The study also found that smaller businesses believed that they had achieved greater benefits from their e-commerce services than had the larger firms in all areas explored.