EBiz'Enable

1
SME Skills Development Process
Sheila Smail Electronic Commerce Branch Industry
Canada
2
The e-Business Learning Continuum
Phase 1
Phase 3
Phase 2
Paper-based Internal Processes (no website)
Basic Web-site (Brochure-ware)
Basic eCommerce site (secure transaction
processing/order entry)
Understanding of need of web presence, if only
for providing information
Awareness of benefits increasing, also investment
risk and security risks increasing
Low or no awareness of benefits of e-Commerce
Understanding of security issues and high level
of knowledge or trusted advisor
Basic Computer literacy Knowledge of basic
suite of programs
Awareness-raising
3
Early efforts to raise awareness
Pre-Phase 1

• 1998 Good policy environment
• Lack of SME uptake
• Government-led awareness

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Private-Public Sector Partnership
Phase 1

• Creation of the Canadian e-Business Opportunities
  Roundtable
• Regional Roundtables 1500 participants
• Development of the SME Toolkit to address
  barriers identified

Is about building awareness
5
Initial partnership inspired other outreach

• Canadian Bankers Association
• Working with the banks, Chamber of Commerce and
  government
• Seminars reaching 8000 SMEs

6
SME E-Business Information online
Online Learning Centre for SMEs

• Basic information for business
• Easy to navigate and use

By 2001, Canadian SMEs were aware, yet many
were not adopting, or were not advancing up the
curve
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Canadian e-Business Initiative
Phase 2

• Launch of the Canadian e-Business Initiative
• E-Corps Pilot Launched
• Net Impact Studies

Is about trusted advisors and ROI
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e-Corps was another partnership
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Sector-specific information and tools. . .

Phase 3 National Council on the e-Economy
are the next generation issues
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Thank you
Sheila Smail Electronic Commerce Branch Industry
Canada www.ebiz.enable.ic.gc.ca