Mamut helps Irish SMEs make the move online

20-02-2006

by Maxim Kelly

Business software provider Mamut has launched a service aimed at SMEs, which will help them to create their own e-commerce websites.

The service, dubbed Web Free Package, was launched on Monday, and is available free of charge. It is designed to allow anyone with basic computer literacy to set-up an e-commerce-capable website within 30 minutes. The Scandinavian company hopes the service will be a new incentive for Irish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to get onto the e-commerce bandwagon.

"We are offering small businesses who do not want to spend vast amounts on training and implementation, the ability to get up-and-running quickly on the web with a simple online shop, customer relationship management (CRM) and some simple management software," said Alan Moody, managing director of Mamut in Ireland, speaking with ElectricNews.Net.

The Small Firms Association said that it welcomes new products that can ease the way for SMEs to trade online but that businesses should not rush in just for the sake of it.

"We've seen a six-fold increase in our members going online over the past year and nearly all of them communicate with us by e-mail, which may have been a bit of a struggle five years ago. However, businesses should step back and determine whether they really need to conduct e-business," said SFA assistant director Patricia Callan, speaking with ElectricNews.Net.

"For example they should check that they don't already have the software capability to construct a website and check with service providers to see if they are offering e-commerce services," warned Callan.

"Yes they should have a website, which is vital for marketing purposes, but make sure it's up-to-date because having none is better than having a bad one -- it looks terrible no matter how good the actual firm is," she added.

A recent survey by Chambers Commerce Ireland (CCI) found a direct link between broadband connections and increased usage of all e-business applications, with those with broadband more likely to be using e-business applications

Mamut managing director Alan Moody told ElectricNews.Net that low broadband take-up amongst small firms in Ireland was a concern for Mamut when it came into the Irish market in November last year. He believes that if firms see the ease of getting online and opening up e-commerce sales channels they are also more likely to upgrade to broadband.

Moody said Mamut sees Ireland as an attractive market well-used to the Scandinavian way of doing business and has invested EUR1.5 million in rolling-out its product here.

Headquartered in Oslo, Mamut has enjoyed 25 percent organic growth every year over the past five years, with its most recent Europe-wide turnover standing at EUR20 million. Aside from Ireland, the software firm operates in Britain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.