Small and medium firms urged to log on

Around 200 business people from small and medium-sized firms have met at Zurich's Technopark to hear how they could benefit most from an Internet presence.

The “Untapped Potential” conference highlighted a range of benefits available to smaller firms, including increasing their customer base and widening their sources of supplies.

Addressing the conference were Olli-Pekka Lintual, director of Nokia Mobile Phones, Michael Büsbeck, director of the Zurich-based e-commerce consultants Commerce One, and Swiss writer and commentator, Beat Kappeler.

“Four years ago we hadn’t even heard of Internet bookseller Amazon.com, imagine where we will be in another four years,” Kappeler told swisinfo.

“All businesses of any size can benefit from a presence on the worldwide web,” added Kappeler.

Participants were urged to think of the Internet as a tool for any business, whatever its size. The speakers highlighted how e-commerce solutions would allow even the smallest firms to sell their goods direct over the web to clients further afield in a cost-effective manner.

“It’s not just the number of customers that increase because of a company taking an internet site. Companies also have a greater choice of suppliers and instant contact with them, this too reduces costs,” explained Kappeler.

by Tom O’Brien