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In
July 2002, EBJ conducted its second comprehensive survey of the
environmental
industry and the internet. The survey was almost identical to
EBJ’s June 2000 survey, with added questions relating to
environmental information systems. Among the 130 respondents was
a cross section of small, medium and large firm—the strong
majority being consulting firms. While EBJ characterized most
C&E firms as “in an uncertain, wait-and-see mode”
in 2000, it is clear that a sort of equilibrium has been reached
in 2002. In spite of—or perhaps because of—the bursting
of the dot-com bubble, e-commerce has become a top priority for
more C&E firms: 28% rated e-commerce is a ‘top priority’
in 2002, compared to 15% in 2000. Conversely, 38% characterized
their attitude toward e-commerce as ‘not a priority’
or ‘not clear if there are any benefits’ in 2002, compared
to 13% in 2000. Following are survey highlights (a complete analysis
and a copy of the survey is available as part of Report
1811: E-Commerce, Information Systems & Internet Use in the
U.S. Environmental Industry).
• While virtually all firms use email and 94%
have websites, 40% of websites offer real-time interaction with
clients, 22% can take online orders, 11% can take online payment
and only 10% are affiliated with industry hub sites.
• Only 35% said they have ‘an articulated
Internet or e-commerce strategy and business model’ and only
11% described their e-commerce activities as ‘efficiently
planned and executed’ (45% said ‘fairly well-focused’
and 33% said ‘ad hoc or chaotic’). Security and cost
of implementation were ranked as the two largest obstacles to
more e-commerce, but these were encountered by less than half
of respondents.
• 63% have an intranet linking offices, 33% have
an extranet allowing partners or clients access to the intranet.
48% use these for online collaboration or meetings (79% of large
firms), 42% for design or group editing (67% of large), 40% for
project tracking for clients (64% of large) and 28% for billing
& collections (49% of large).
• Increased customer satisfaction was ranked as
the highest value provided by the internet & e-commerce, followed
by increased project efficiencies and employee efficiency. 51%
said lower costs were a result but only 8% said the internet offered
‘no clear value’ or ended up wasting employee’s
time.
• 39% said the Internet has ‘definitely’
shortened project delivery cycle, 29% said ‘somewhat’
and 32% said ‘not really.’ Only one-third of respondents
said clients are ‘pressuring them to become more Internet-savvy’—and
a many said the reverse is true.
• Regarding environmental information, in aggregate
20% of clients have ‘an operating EMIS,’ say respondents,
22% of consultants have designed an EMIS, 12% have purchased software
on behalf of a client, 19% have designed an online reporting system,
15% have linked an EMIS with other corporate information systems
and 26% have automated a routine reporting or record-keeping function.
###
This article
appeared in Environmental
Business Journal Volume XIV No.9/10 2002
• More
detailed survey results available in Report 1811: E-Commerce,
Information Systems and Internet Use in the US Environmental Industry
• Save
$100 -Sign up for EBJ subscriptin now and get Report 1811!
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