C&E Internet Survey Results Reveal Broad Uncertainty about Use and Value July 2000 Article from Environmental Business Journal Vol.XII No.11/12 More articles from this issue     The following survey results are available in more detail in Report 1810: E-Commerce & the Internet in the U.S. Environmental Industry.   In June 2000, Environmental Business Journal and management consulting firm KPMG surveyed environmental consulting & engineering (C&E) firms to find out how they are using the internet and how they perceive its value. We found that many C&E firms are still in an uncertain, wait-and-see mode. Development efforts are sporadic and unstructured, and perceptions of increased efficiency and enhanced value are all over the map. What is certain, however, is that the vast majority of firms believe the internet will significantly impact how they do business-although they remain skeptical about the extent of its impact: 85% of respondents thought the internet was impacting speed, innovation and new value creation in the C&E business; 70% acknowledged that they had seen the internet shorten a project delivery cycle; 73% said it had caused them to restructure a business relationship; and 60% had received direct pressure from clients to become more internet-savvy. Although the vast majority of respondents (97%) have websites, precious few provide e-commerce options such as taking online orders (6%) and accepting online payments (3%). E-commerce is still in the exploratory stage for about half of the responding firms and only 15% listed e-commerce as a top priority. Following is a summary of results (Complete results categorized by size of firm are available in Report 1810: E-Commerce & the Internet in the U.S. Environmental Industry):     Virtually all respondents have web sites but only 15% have any affiliation with industrial "hub" sites, and these tend to be small to mid-sized firms. 76% have an intranet linking offices to the internet (100% of large firms, 79% of mid-sized and 55% of small firms). 58% have an extranet permitting access to the company's intranet by select vendors, partners and clients; 88% of large firms (more than $100 million in sales) have an extranet, 57% of mid-sized ($20-100 million) and 36% of small firms. Only 36% of C&E firms confirmed that they have a well-articulated internet strategy or business plan. Most firms (64%) have their own internal staff to manage technology applications and 39% use some sort of specialty consulting firm. Midsize firms are the most likely to outsource.     One response submitted by a small company executive stood out as an eloquent "call to arms" for the C&E segment: "E-commerce is a fundamental link to the world economies. It makes all markets accessible and competition higher... all firms look the same size. The fundamental shift in the marketplace will be most noticeable in the next 2-3 years.... Development cycles in technology will be impacting other industries and setting the expectations as faster and higher quality. People will be willing to pay for this convenience early. The 'cheaper' aspect of this equation comes later-when the process is a commodity. We do not want to be embracing a concept when it is perceived as simply 'cheap' to our client. We want to add value." # More detailed information available in Report 1810: E-Commerce & the Internet in the U.S. Environmental Industry   [Main] [Profile] [Publications] [Services] [Data] [News] [Perspective] [Surveys] [Links] [Free Sample] [Contact] ~~~~~~~~ Copyright ©2002 Environmental Business International, Inc. (San Diego, CA) Phone: (619)295-7685, Fax: (619)295-5743 All rights reserved. This website, or any part, may not be duplicated, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. Unauthorized use of this information is illegal. Disclaimer: Although EBI has made every effort tobe accurate errors may appear and are unintentional.