The first thing to understand about E-commerce is that it is about more than selling things on the Internet. It's about using online resources and tools to generate income for a community and its businesses. It's about access to information that will allow businesses to operate more efficiently. It's about saving money as well as making money online.

E-commerce offers opportunities to micro-businesses just as it does to large corporations. Communities can use a range of e-commerce solutions. The most common is support for small local businesses.

This project description was written by Terry Grunwald for the Scottish Communities Channel in 2001, but is now longer available there. We plan to update here shortly.

What do E-commerce Projects do?

• Work with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to build their awareness of the potential of the Internet to assist with a range of business needs - from information on regulations, production methods, and procurement/market opportunities to actually selling products online.

• Help individuals in low wealth areas learn ways to supplement their income through the Net.

• Help businesses determine when they are ready for a web presence, how to use their web site strategically (reach the widest possible audience and tap into new markets), and how to develop a web plan.

• Design and host web sites for small businesses.

• Hold workshops and promote information sharing among local businesses who are planning and implementing e-commerce ventures.

• Facilitate online discussions and provide on-line directories of e-commerce suppliers.

• Generate and nurture information and communication technology (ICT) business ideas that can create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in Social Inclusion Partnership areas.

• Use local ICT business ventures to support other technology or service projects for the community.

• Integrate e-commerce into existing SME support activities.

Resources

Scottish Enterprise Network has an E-Commerce-Scotland web site.

The Centre for Remote Access to Learning has published E-commerce: Guidelines & information concerning on-line electronic commerce via the Internet.

Access Minnesota Main Street offers an online curriculum with a community-based approach to e-commerce.

About.com has a Beginners Guide to E-Commerce and an Electronic Commerce Workbench..

E-commerce Guide.com is an online guide, which provides news, resources and feature articles on the techniques, required to implement small scale e-commerce solutions - especially web sites. You can sign up for free e-newsletters or discussion forums. Sellitontheweb.com bills itself as 'everything you need to build a great e-commerce web site.'

Models

Castlemilk Connections has an ICT support scheme for small businesses in its community. It first surveys the businesses to establish ICT requirements and learning needs. Where there is interest, it installs and configures PCs, provides focused training (MS Office 2000), and offers a Consultation process. There are one-to-one visits to determine the effectiveness of the service delivery. 

There are several community web sites that promote local products - especially tourist services and crafts.

Isle of Skye Mall provides an online directory to Accommodation, Tourist sites, and Shopping for over 1000 businesses in the area.

Blue Ridge Web Market (US) is an online showcase of goods and services from small businesses and microenterprises in the mountains of western North Carolina. Goods and services can be ordered directly from the site.

Image Weavers offers handmade goods from places all over America.