eBusiness is the conducting of business on the Internet, not only buying and selling but also serving customers and collaborating with business partners. This concept is much wider than eCommerce as the latter is mostly focused towards buying and selling processes. The New Government views eBusiness as an important arm for Malta’s Digital Economy. In effect it is the Government’s aim that the Digital Economy becomes one of the main economical pillars for our country.
eBusiness has offered local businesses increased opportunities to branch further afield and tap foreign markets at relatively low cost, it has also offered local consumers other avenues to shop around to find the better deal from the comfort of their own homes. More are more local firms are also turning towards eBusiness technologies to communicate with international and local suppliers. It comes as no surprise therefore that today, 64% of local Internet users shop online and more than 2/3 of local business have their own website. We aim to ensure that both the local industry and local consumers continue to benefit from this reality. MCA Research indicates that 15% of local firms sell their products and services via eCommerce, the New Governments aim is to create the right context for more local businesses to use these technologies allowing for more Economic Growth, thus not using the Internet for information purposes only but as a medium to facilitate and generate business processes.
Last week I was invited to introduce the Malta eBusiness Seminar 2013 organised by the CSB Group and the Malta Institute of Management. A one day conference which acted as a platform for entrepreneurs, academics and experts in the field to share their experiences with over one hundred and twenty delegates mostly coming from the local business community. The participants came together from across different industries to learn about the latest trends and share best practices with other entities, seminars like the one today provides a perfect platform for networking between eBusiness stakeholders. Networking not only in the terms of business collaboration but in terms of knowledge sharing which is fundamental for obtaining Economic Growth.
The Internet has indeed changed the way the world does business, it is thus of great importance that local companies understand how one can make full use and benefit of eBusiness Technologies. It is not only the consumers and business who can benefit from eBusiness, the Government is also able to adopt and make use of eBusiness technologies for Government-to-Government processes and Government-to-Consumer processes. In effect eBusiness technologies will also be a highly relevant tool for helping in the simplification of bureaucracy. More Business of all sizes in all sectors are using the Internet in many different ways - to work with partners and suppliers, for procurement, for internal activities such as knowledge sharing, a new sales channel and new product development, and much more, in fact Business is no longer confined to an office but rather evolved into a far more efficient and effective operation.
Top concerns for management in today's business environment are:
The threat posed by competitors;
Controlling costs;
Finding new opportunities;
Improving responsiveness;
Better customer focus and service.
eBusiness is capable of delivering these concerns. Its promise is in its ability to transform the way firms conduct business with its customers, with its suppliers, and within its own organization. Internet based buying; selling and processes provide opportunities to many businesses to reinvent themselves, creating new business designs and models for evolving market spaces.
MITA also plays an important role in developing eBusiness related skills which are much needed by our industries in today’s Digital Economy. Through initiatives such as the E-Skills Alliance which will have an important role in highlighting the human resources needs we can strengthen the context for the development and implementation eBusiness applications. We would be wrong in thinking that eBusiness is solely the use of Internet gadgets working in silo, eBusiness must be encompassed in a healthy business model as a tool which simplifies, improves and increases the communication and transaction flows of businesses. Entrepreneurship, Creativity, Research and Innovation skills are also key to the Economic Development through the application of eBusiness technologies.
The New Government through the Malta Communications Authority will maintain its commitment to ensure that eBusiness will have the adequate space to continue developing and moving towards different opportunities. Furthermore the Government will be encouraging MCA to organize public fora on a regular basis dedicated specifically to all matters related to eBusiness and eCommerce as part of its efforts to disseminate information and generate discussion. Furthermore this administration will ensure that eBusiness is promoted by further increasing ICTs accessibility across the Maltese public and local enterprises.
Measures will be taken by the New Government to streamline interaction between businesses and Government, and a range of Business applications will be launched for businesses to work more effectively from their office in complying with Government regulations. In fact, this government commits itself to provide the necessary support to all ICT companies so the latter will adopted from the beginning the concept of Born Global, thus to sell their own products not only at a local level but also at an international one. This attitude is in line with the digital agenda for Europe that endorses eBusiness as having an important role in encouraging businesses to carry out trade and practices online.
Hon Dr Edward Zammit Lewis is Parliamentary Secretary for Competiveness and Economic Growth
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