Optimising the implementation factors of a Web-based e-commerce adoption model

Although e-Commerce is being more extensively used in South Africa, the financial and economic viability of e-commerce is still questioned at times. The reliance on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and systems, slow bridging of graphical distances or reliance on poor network availability often impedes e-commerce adoption. These aspects may even act as barriers to successful e-commerce adoption. Recognising that e-Commerce evolved from rudimentary websites to more sophisticated web-based customer-service systems, business often queries the maturity of the Internet1 and Web2 technologies, and are concerned to what extent new technologies, including social media can add value to their businesses. In addition, the importance of adopting e-commerce governed by managerial and business requirements is known and it is now more common not to use the Web as merely an add-on feature to augment traditional business channels such as direct selling, marketing and supply chains, but to be an integrated into business activity. Some entities continue to opt for short-term solutions creating static Web pages to at least have a Web presence, however, business opportunities and other issues come to play once businesses are faced with e-commerce adoption decisions. This is especially true for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), as they are not a set of homogeneous businesses, but differ by attributes such as size, sector, background and location. Literature reveals examples of success stories of e-commerce adoption and often reports on international and, to a lesser degree on South African (local) studies. Business models are essential and play prominent roles in business operations. In this instance, e-commerce adoption models need to have theoretical as well as practical application components to assist real-world problems, thereby benefiting SMMEs. This paper revisits the implementation factors of an e-commerce adoption model four years on, obtaining evidence of the relevancy and optimises the 94 adoption factors