Despite an increasingly negative sentiment towards dot-coms and e-business, the latest research shows that the Internet remains popular and, like it or not, it is here to stay - and it is going to grow, not diminish, in importance.
This is the opinion of Douglas Reed, MD of leading Internet Service Provider (ISP) and network integrator, Data Pro - part of the JSE Securities Exchange listed Control Instruments group.
Reed said that according to the New York-based Mediamark Research, almost 100 million US adults are now going online every month. That amounts to about half of US adults - and this represents a growth of 27% in comparison to 1999.
"With the US economy slowing and everyone taking stock of the recent dot-com crash, there is a lot of negative sentiment in business and investment circles. But although the bottom fell out of the dot-com world, no-one really believed that it could maintain those heights. But the dot-com wave will continue. The next one will just be more sustainable, and more measured.
"Interestingly, no analyst worth his salt is claiming that the new digital economy is a myth. So why, then, will e-business and dot-coms become less important in the future? It remains a fact that those companies who do not embrace the Internet and, where necessary, adopt e-business strategies, will fall behind the rest of the pack," said Reed.
According to the research, 10 million more Internet users are accessing the Internet from work since 1999, but the largest percentage of adults go online from home computers.
"It is true that the advent of e-tailing will not do away with brick-and-mortar retailers. But more and more shoppers will use the Web as a research medium and sales facilitator. If they want to touch and feel the object of their desire - as Internet detractors keep stating - it is likely that they will find what they want on the web. They may get in their car and go and buy it from the shop - but an increasing number will use the Internet as the ultimate facilitator. Too many died-in-the-wool traditionalists are forgetting this.
"Yes, most people may want to get in a car and test drive it, but they will first find out what they want, how much it costs, what colours it is available in, and where it is available, before going for a test drive. If you, as a car seller, don`t make your information on-line, you might find the phone ringing less - and less potential buyers visiting your showroom floors to `kick the tyres` before roaring off in his or her bright red soft top."
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