E-Business the Latest Cutting-Edge Issue for Ohio

E-Business is the latest Internet vehicle on the information superhighway. More than 760 U.S. households join the Internet each hour. Being online is no longer a fad. It's a way of life and a way to do business. Total e-business volume is expected to grow from its current $109 billion to $1.1 trillion by 2003.

Small businesses have been slow to join the "new economy." A May 2000 report by Ecom-Ohio showed Ohio to be below average in terms of e-business and use of the Internet for business purposes. They also reported that small- and medium-sized businesses and local governments are slow to adopt the Internet. Planning and building a sales presence on the Web is a challenge for businesses. It is also a challenge for communities and economic developers to address the fast-changing demands of the information technology economy. Currently, there are few comprehensive efforts in place to raise awareness and teach about e-business strategies for small and medium-sized businesses.

The Ohio State University is helping to bridge the digital divide by integrating expertise across multiple disciplines and introducing a comprehensive program to educate and foster community relationships to make e-business work for Ohio.