Verhoest, PJames, TMarais, Mario AVan Audenhove, L2007-08-242007-08-242006-05Verhoest, P, et al. 2006. Electronic business survey on South African tour operators. IST-Africa 2006 Conference, CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, 3-5 May 2006, pp 10http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11732006 IST-Africa ConferenceThis contribution presents the results of a pilot project on ICT usage by South African SMMEs in the tourism industry. The Electronic Business Survey (EBS) methodology, which was tested for applicability in a developing country, in this case South Africa, uses qualitative indicators and quantitative estimations to measure the impacts of e-business practices. The results, based on 40 face-to-face interviews, were substantive and showed that the adapted OECD methodology could be used successfully. In the South African tourism industry, ICT significantly improves the performance of these businesses. Although ICT adoption represents a significant operational cost for the interviewed firms, it also substantially contributes to increasing revenue and improving labour productivity. On balance the results are extremely positive: 44.7% of firms reports increased profitability, whereas for 50% it remained the same as three years ago. Of the firms that reported increased profitability, 75% indicated ICT as a contributing factor, and 31% considered ICT as the main contributing factor. The most positive effects are attributed to the usage of the Internet to improve customer relations in conjunction with creative product offerings (customisation, product-service bundling). Findings are consistent with research applying the same methodology in Western and Eastern Europe. This includes the finding that positive effects of ICT tend to be bigger for industries in transition, supporting businesses to become internationally competitive.enElectronic business surveyPerformance indicatorsSMMEsTourismSouth AfricaICT usageIST-Africa Conference, 3-5 May 2006Conference PresentationVerhoest, P., James, T., Marais, M. A., & Van Audenhove, L. (2006). Electronic business survey on South African tour operators. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1173Verhoest, P, T James, Mario A Marais, and L Van Audenhove. "Electronic business survey on South African tour operators." (2006): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1173Verhoest P, James T, Marais MA, Van Audenhove L, Electronic business survey on South African tour operators; 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1173 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - Verhoest, P AU - James, T AU - Marais, Mario A AU - Van Audenhove, L AB - This contribution presents the results of a pilot project on ICT usage by South African SMMEs in the tourism industry. The Electronic Business Survey (EBS) methodology, which was tested for applicability in a developing country, in this case South Africa, uses qualitative indicators and quantitative estimations to measure the impacts of e-business practices. The results, based on 40 face-to-face interviews, were substantive and showed that the adapted OECD methodology could be used successfully. In the South African tourism industry, ICT significantly improves the performance of these businesses. Although ICT adoption represents a significant operational cost for the interviewed firms, it also substantially contributes to increasing revenue and improving labour productivity. On balance the results are extremely positive: 44.7% of firms reports increased profitability, whereas for 50% it remained the same as three years ago. Of the firms that reported increased profitability, 75% indicated ICT as a contributing factor, and 31% considered ICT as the main contributing factor. The most positive effects are attributed to the usage of the Internet to improve customer relations in conjunction with creative product offerings (customisation, product-service bundling). Findings are consistent with research applying the same methodology in Western and Eastern Europe. This includes the finding that positive effects of ICT tend to be bigger for industries in transition, supporting businesses to become internationally competitive. DA - 2006-05 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Electronic business survey KW - Performance indicators KW - SMMEs KW - Tourism KW - South Africa KW - ICT usage KW - IST-Africa Conference, 3-5 May 2006 LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2006 T1 - Electronic business survey on South African tour operators TI - Electronic business survey on South African tour operators UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1173 ER -