The Internet Generation: Internet Infrastructure Trends in the Small Business Market (5 to 99 Employees)

Small business websites continue to become more common and more sophisticated. For the most part, though, websites in this market remained primarily informational in 2001. However, many of the decision-makers surveyed expected their firm to add customer service or personalization features this year. Integration with back-end systems is fairly low among websites in the small business market, though it is expected to increase, particularly with industry-specific systems and CRM systems.

Outsourcing of website functions is expected to increase this year, but only slightly. Firms in this market are turning to outsourcing providers for the cost savings they offer, which have become increasingly important in the current economy. Small businesses that outsourced website functionality last year most often turned to web service providers or ISPs. Website outsourcing is likely to continue to grow moving forward, as the cost-benefit and expertise that outside providers bring to the table should continue to attract these resource stretched small firms.

• Executive Summary
  
  
  


• Methodology
  
  
  
  
  
  • Forecasting
    Techniques
    
    
  
  
  • Definitions
    
    
    
  
  
  • Structured
    Research Sources
    
    
    
    
    
    • Internet,
      2001
      
      
    
    
    • Vertical
      Representation, Internet 2001
      
      
    
    
    • Title of
      Respondent, Internet 2001
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Change in Scope
    of Demographics
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Small Business
  Demographics
  
  
  
  
  
  • Number of Firms
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Focus of Company
  Website
  
  
  
  
  
  • Main Focus
    of Company Website By Size of Business
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Website Capabilities
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Resources Offered
    to Visitors Online
    
    
    
    
    
    • Resources
      Offered to Visitors Online by Size of Business
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Integration
    With Back-End Business Systems
    
    
    
    
    
    • Integration
      with Back-End Business Systems by Size
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Outsourcing of
  Web Infrastructure
  
  
  
  
  
  • Outsourced
    Website Functions
    
    
    
    
    
    • Outsourced
      Website Functions Continued
      
      
    
    
    • Outsourced
      Website Functions By Size of Business
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Reasons for
    Outsourcing Website Functions
    
    
    
    
    
    • Reasons
      for Outsourcing Website Functions by Size
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Selecting Web
    Outsourcing Providers
    
    
    
    
    
    • Most Influential
      Factor in Selecting Web Outsourcing Providers by Size of Business
      
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Outsourcing Providers
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Use of Outsourcing
    Providers
    
    
  
  
  • Internet Service
    Providers
    
    
  
  
  • Telcos
    
    
  
  
  • Web Service
    Providers
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Determining E-business
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Determining
    E-business Strategies
    
    
    
    
    
    • Key Decision-Maker
      in Determining E-business Strategies by Size of Business
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Determining
    E-business Investments
    
    
    
    
    
    • Key Decision-Maker
      in Determining E-business Investments by Size of Business
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Conclusion

List of Tables

• Table 1. Number
  of Firms - Small Business, 2001-2006
  
  


• Table 2. Main Focus
  of Company Website by Size of Business - Small Business, 2001
  
  


• Table 3. Resources
  Offered to Visitors Online by Size - Small Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Table 4. Integration
  With Back-End Systems - Small Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Table 5. Outsourced
  Website Functions By Size - Small Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Table 6. Reasons
  for Outsourcing Website Functions by Size - Small Business, 2001
  
  


• Table 7. Most Influential
  Factor in Choosing Outsourcing Provider by Size - Small Business, 2001
  
  
  


• Table 8. Percent
  of Firms Using Provider of Those Using Outside Services - Small Business,
  2001
  
  


• Table 9. Key Decision-Maker
  in Deciding E-business Strategies by Size - Small Business, 2001
  
  


• Table 10. Decision-Maker
  in Determining E-business Investments by Size - Small Business, 2001
  

List of Figures

• Figure 1. Main
  Focus of Company Website - Small Business, 2001
  
  


• Figure 2. Sample
  Demographics: Vertical Representation - Small Business, 2001
  
  


• Figure 3. Sample
  Demographics: Title of Respondent - Small Business, 2001
  
  


• Figure 4. Main
  Focus of Company Website - Small Business, 2001
  
  


• Figure 5. Resources
  Offered to Visitors Online - Small Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Figure 6. Integration
  With Back-End Business Systems - Small Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Figure 7. Outsourced
  Website Functions - Small Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Figure 8. Outsourced
  Website Functions Continued - Small Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Figure 9. Reasons
  for Outsourcing Website Functions - Small Business, 2001
  
  


• Figure 10. Most
  Influential Factor in Selecting Web Outsourcing Providers -Small Business,
  2001
  
  


• Figure 11. Percent
  of Firms Using ISPs of Those Using Outside Services - Small Business,
  2001
  
  


• Figure 12. Percent
  of Firms Using Telcos of Those Using Outside Services - Small Business,
  2001
  
  


• Figure 13. Percent
  Using Web Service Providers of Those Using Outside Services - Small
  Business, 2001
  
  


• Figure 14. Key
  Decision-Maker in Determining E-business Strategies - Small Business,
  2001
  
  


• Figure 15. Key
  Decision-Maker in Determining E-business Investments - Small Business,
  2001