The Internet Generation: Internet Infrastructure Trends in the SOHO Business Market (1 to 4 Employees)

With decision-makers focused on provisioning high-speed Internet access to a greater number of employees, the shift toward broadband from dial-up access continues to be a force in this market. However, dial-up access remains the most popular type of Internet access among SOHO businesses in both main office and home office locations.

A large number of SOHO employees continue to use the Internet for e-mail and research. However, a significant number of SOHO employees are using the Internet for online collaboration and instant messaging as well. At the firm level, increased use of the Internet for strategic functions is expected, with particular interest in its use for Voice-over IP.

More firms are expected to offer product information and customer service online. An increased number of SOHO firms are also expected to integrate their websites with back-end systems. With regard to outsourcing website functions, there is expected to be little to no increase among SOHO firms for most of these functions.

Table of Contents

• 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
    
    
  
  
  
  


• SOHO Business Demographics
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Number of Firms
    
    
    
  
  
  • Number of Employees
    
    
    
  
  
  • Work Environments
    
    
    
  
  
  • Number of Internet-accessing
    Employees
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Internet Access
  by Work Environment
  
  
  
  
  
  • Internet Access
    Across Locations
    
    
  
  
  • Primary Type
    of Internet Access in the Main Office
    
    
    
    
    
    • Primary
      Type of Internet Access in the Main Office by Size
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Primary Type
    of Internet Access in the Home Office
    
    
    
    
    
    • Primary
      Type of Internet Access in the Home Office by Size
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Internet Usage
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • How Employees
    Use the Internet at Work
    
    
    
    
    
    • How Employees
      Use the Internet at Work by Size of Business
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Strategic or
    Corporate-Wide Usage of the Internet
    
    
    
    
    
    • Company
      Use of the Internet by Size of Business
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 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
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 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
      
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Conclusions

List of Tables

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


• Table 2. Number
  of Full-time Employees - SOHO Business, 2001-2006
  
  


• Table 3. Number
  of Employees Accessing the Internet - SOHO Business, 2001-2006
  
  


• Table 4. Primary
  Type of Internet Access by Size: Main Office - SOHO Business, 2001-2002
  
  
  


• Table 5. Primary
  Type of Internet Access by Size: Home Office - SOHO Business, 2001-2002
  
  
  


• Table 6. How Employees
  Use the Internet at Work by Size - SOHO Business, 2001
  
  


• Table 7. Strategic
  or Corporate-Wide Usage of the Internet by Size -SOHO Business, 2001-2002
  
  
  


• Table 8. Main Focus
  of Company Website by Size of Business - SOHO Business, 2001
  
  


• Table 9. Resources
  Offered to Visitors Online by Size - SOHO Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Table 10. Integration
  With Back-End Systems - SOHO Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Table 11. Outsourced
  Website Functions By Size - SOHO Business, 2001-2002
  
  


• Table 12. Reasons
  for Outsourcing Website Functions by Size - SOHO Business, 2001
  
  


• Table 13. Most
  Influential Factor in Choosing Outsourcing Provider by Size - SOHO Business,
  2001
  
  


• Table 14. Percent
  of Firms Using Provider of Those Using Outside Services - SOHO Business,
  2001
  
  


• Table 15. Key Decision-Maker
  in Deciding E-business Strategies by Size - SOHO Business, 2001
  
  


• Table 16. Decision-Maker
  in Determining E-business Investments by Size - SOHO Business, 2001
  

List of Figures