Scots firms failing the online test

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Mar 1, 2009 | by STEVEN VASS

SCOTTISH companies have failed to make progress in online trading over the past five years, according to the head of the tech industry's association.

Polly Purvis, executive director of ScotlandIS, said that it was "hugely disappointing" that no Scottish companies were listed in the top 50 most popular retail websites.

She also revealed her association had been discussing with Scottish Enterprise setting up a loan scheme to help small companies develop better websites.

"Lots of companies have got websites, but many are of the kind that you wouldn't want to, or can't, buy from. At least 5per cent or 10per cent of the UK top-rated sites should come from Scotland, " she said.

IMRG does not measure sites outside its top 50, but measurement from Alexa, which is not confined to retail, indicates the highest- ranked site in Scotland is RBS consumer site rbs. co. uk, which is 251st in a list topped by Google. co. uk.

The highest-ranking e-commerce sites in Scotland include office. co. uk (1197th), and schuhstore. co. uk (1464th) .

The poor figures come when the internet is weathering the downturn relatively well. While British retail sales have been in freefall in recent months, online sales rose by 19per cent year on year in January.

Purvis said small businesses should consider developing or improving their websites because costs have fallen and methods of payment and distribution have improved in recent years.

As for ScotlandIS's talks with Scottish Enterprise (SE), she stressed that her association was only asking for a loan scheme: "An SME can put together a good transactional website for GBP20,000 to GBP30,000. Suppose SE put up a GBP10,000 loan for a company, it could be repaid at GBP1000 per month once the money started coming in, " she said.