She cometh: Australian SMEs adopt the web
Some interesting stats from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, courtesy of Technology and Business Magazine (October 2005, Page 34):
- Ninety-seven percent of all businesses in NSW are small businesses of which 85 percent are micro-businesses (0-4 employees);
- Eighty-three percent of businesses in NSW own a computer, 72 percent use the Internet and 24 percent have a web presence;
- Sixty-five percent of micro-businesses (0-4 employees) have Internet access, while 15 percent of them have a Web presence;
- The highest proportion of businesses with a Web presence is in the cultural and recreational services (37 percent) while the lowest is in the construction industry.
- The proportion of businesses using DSL more than doubled to 18 per by 2003.
- Fifty-seven percent of micro-businesses report earning five percent or more of their income via the Internet;
- Close to 40 percent of computer users in business report experiencing some form of IT security breach – with viruses the most common.
I should note – having pilfered several column inches from the magazine – that Ziff Davis’ Technology and Business Magazine is one of the better IT&T magazines on the market, and almost always has an excellent feature focus, and relevant product reviews.
