The internet can be a double-edged sword for SMEs, new research has revealed.
Vnunet.com reports that research conduct by the Cranfield School of Management found that while six out of ten SMEs felt the web had improved the efficiency of their company, 46 per cent thought it had made things more complex.
The report also found that the rise of the internet has made the business environment a tougher place for SMEs as it allowed consumers greater choice, increasing competition.
Andrew Burke, co-author of the report, said: "The sting in the tail is that this uptake in internet use has been so dramatic that most SMEs now share these same benefits and few can garner a competitive advantage as a result."
Last month David Thorp of the Chartered Institute of Marketing said that SMEs needed to embrace internet marketing as it was likely to outperform traditional channels in coming years.
