According to research for Fujitsu, retailers are missing opportunities because they still see technology mainly as a means to cut costs, when they could be using it to gain competitive edge over their rivals.
According to analysts Netcraft, 17.5 million new web sites have been created this year - more than in the dot-com boom year of 2000. Most of this growth is believed to come from small businesses realising the benefits of the net and creating a site.