Role of E-commerce in Export Development for SMEs in Developing Countries

Abstract

Ubiquitous Information and Communication technologies use has driven E-commerce growth at a rapid pace for the last many years. It has expanded at double the rate of physical retailers for the last decade. SMEs despite being crucial to world economies owing to their flexibility and innovativeness, a large number of them only operates domestically especially in the developing countries. Export can be very profitable for SMEs in developing countries but poses challenges due to factors such as, lack of information and unclear customs clearance procedures, language barriers, higher shipping cost, distant and unfamiliar customers with different cultural background. E-commerce can help reach new customers globally, at a lower cost, faster pace and without intermediaries hence will lead to export growth.

Keywords: E-Commerce, Export, SMEs, Developing Countries