Companies the world over may still be sceptical about the benefits of the Internet but one small country in Europe appears to be taking the leap. A recent survey in Scotland reveals that more than half of all small firms in Scotland now have access to the world-wide web. According to the research conducted by Yell, formerly the Yellow Pages Group, not only are Scottish companies getting connected but they are also reaping the benefits. Yell found that 41 per cent of business users in Scotland claimed they had an increase in sales inquiries since going online and 25 per cent said profits had been boosted. The survey also found that the future looks ripe for an increase in e-commerce activities. Although less than half of the online businesses use the internet up to 69 per cent believe they will be purchasing online next year, with 60 per cent expecting to be selling direct through the internet. One of the greatest concerns for consumers and businesses alike was highlighted during the survey. Online security proved to be one of the greatest worries with up to 70 per cent of company bosses expressing fears about computer viruses, fraud and unauthorised access to company data. If Europe is to compete in the virtual world it should follow the example of the Scots. Perhaps they themselves taking their lead from the spirit of Alexander Graham Bell.
