Grant thornton publishes first-ever world e-mail league

E-mail is almost universally being used by business owners right across the world, according to Grant Thornton's 2005 International Business Owners Survey (IBOS). However, business owners in different countries are using e-mail to differing degrees. On average, business owners spend one and a half hours per day dealing with e-mail with those in the Philippines (2 hours, 6 minutes), Hong Kong, India and the US (all 2 hours) spending most time. Business owners in Greece and Russia spend least time dealing with e-mail with a daily average of just 48 minutes.

The average time spent on e-mail in Russia is one of the lowest because 15 per cent of business owners there do not have e-mail compared to a global average of only two per cent. Russia has a very low internet penetration in general with only around five per cent of people having access. More surprising is the fact that Russia is followed by technology-loving Japan and Taiwan where seven per cent of business owners do not use e-mail. In Australia, Italy and the US, 100 per cent of the business owners surveyed use e-mail.

Business owners in 24 countries around the world were also asked a series of questions about e-mail and e-commerce to ascertain the differing approaches in different countries. Main findings, presented as positive or negative balances*, are:

• Businesses in the Philippines (+76), India (+70) and Spain (+53) say that the internet has helped to increase business turnover most. Those in France are by far the most sceptical about the internet with a balance of -61.
• On the whole, businesses around the world take internet and e-mail security very seriously. When asked if these areas are carefully managed to avoid the risk of viruses and security breaches, the Netherlands is most careful (+91) followed by the US and Germany (both +90), Taiwan (+43) and Russia (+48) are most lax, while the global average is +78.
• Online advertising and marketing is not yet essential to business owners, with a global average of -24. Those in Turkey (+39) and Germany (+17) are most dependent on internet advertising.
• Businesses are generally dependent on the internet for research with a global average of +26. Turkey (+79), the Philippines (+57) and the US (+50) agree most while France (-10) and Japan (-38) disagree most.
• On a worldwide basis, businesses are generally not dependent on the internet for ordering supplies (-21) or taking orders online (-27). Those in the Philippines (+27) and Turkey (+25) are most dependent on ordering supplies online. Those in Turkey (+22) and Mexico (+15) are most dependent on taking orders online.

"There is no doubt that e-mail and the internet are a way of life for business owners across the world and most of these results come as no surprise," comments Wendy Hart, Corporate Finance Partner and Head of Grant Thornton UK's Technology Industry Group.

"However, in some countries there are marked differences. In Russia, where internet penetration remains low, fifteen per cent of business owners do not use e-mail – whereas it is the norm in most countries. In the Philippines, India and Hong Kong, technology has been embraced by entrepreneurial businesses who spend most time on e-mail.

"E-commerce, in its strictest sense is still nowhere near its potential on a global basis. Business owners in general remain sceptical about advertising, marketing, buying and selling online. Some emerging economies like the Philippines, Turkey and Mexico, are leading the way."

Notes to editors

The Grant Thornton International Business Owners Survey (IBOS) was carried out among over 6,300 owners of medium sized businesses from 24 countries during Autumn 2004. IBOS began in 2003 and builds on the European Business Survey (EBS) which Grant Thornton ran from 1993 to 2002. The research was conducted by Experian Business Strategies Limited and Harris Interactive. Further information can be found on the website www.grantthorntonibos.com .

* The figure is the percentage balance of the respondents who agree or disagree with a statement.

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