Business use of Internet in the Netherlands

In this article we present results of a research we have done on the business use of Internet in The Netherlands during the period of January-October 1996. We have studied three industries: Banks & insurance, Tourism and Consultancy organizations. We have looked at the following three aspects: Internet presence, business use of Internet, and the process of setting up Internet activity. The Results of our research suggest that much of the Internet activity of companies setting up a Web site in The Netherlands, is in the category of information / presence Web sites. We have found that, by large, senior management was the initiator of setting up Internet activities. About half of the companies reviewed, did not have a defined Internet strategy or implementation plan. In the companies that did have a defined Internet strategy, it was developed by management. As to the future, many companies are now working on their ‘second generation’ sites that are being designed as transaction sites, to enable business via their Web.