 It is not common for Scandinavian or Benelux companies to offer their customers and partners interactive services over the web. According to the surveys conducted by IDC and Market-Visio on behalf of Teamware Group only a fraction of small and middle-sized companies provide their stakeholders with possibilities to interact online. However, strong growth in interactive web solutions is anticipated.
Offering access to a virtual community is something new for many companies and is not being used to a great extent. Even though companies don't utilize web communities in a larger scale they are familiar with the concept 'web community'. Almost all the respondents recognized the concept, while only a few stated that they belong to one.
Less than 10 per cent of the interviewees said to offer their customers with online discussion facilities let alone any other interactive services. However, in Finland and in the Benelux almost all the companies provide their customers with an electric feedback channel.
Internet is interesting investment
According to the survey conducted this spring Scandinavian and Benelux companies are investing quite a lot in their web services. In Finland it is most common to invest in content development and visual design, while in Sweden most web projects focus on integrating the web solution with the operative systems of the company.
In all the countries there seems to be interest in interactive web solutions and web communities. More than 15% of the companies questioned are interested in applying interactive web services in the near future.
"The surveys prove the fact that companies do find the Internet an extremely important communications channel. But it also reveals that the possibilities offered by the latest web-technologies haven't been utilized in a larger scale yet", says Rauno Toivonen, CEO and President of Teamware Group.
"The interactive next generation web-solutions offer unparalleled communications possibilities and free companies' resources from routine-like maintenance functions".
Decentralized market
The survey shows that in all countries ISP market is quite decentralized with no dominating supplier. Internet solutions are offered by traditional technology companies, advertisement agencies as well as new media companies.
During the spring 2001 157 Finnish and 160 Swedish IT-decision makers were interviewed by Market-Visio. For the survey IDC interviewed 358 Internet decision makers in the Benelux countries. The aim of the survey was to gain an insight into the interest in and use of Internet communities within companies and institutions in the Benelux. The survey was conducted on Teamware Group's behalf.
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