Opportunity Wales
eCommerce exemplars

Experience has shown that Welsh SMEs place great store on what others in their peer group have achieved. They like to read about the implementation of eCommerce in similar businesses across Wales, hear their stories of success, as well as listen to their failures.

It is for these reasons that a number of Opportunity Wales clients will be invited to become Exemplars, and allow more detailed information on their eCommerce activities to be made public. Details will be available in printed publicity as well as on the Opportunity Wales Web site under eCommerce Success Stories. Good SME eCommerce case studies are always in demand and are picked up by the press, trade publications and other eCommerce projects. Such exposure for exemplars is usually very welcome free publicity.

Businesses will be selected to be exemplars for a number of reasons. They may be representative of an industry sector in which there are other SMEs who could benefit by taking a similar approach. They may be using particular advanced eCommerce solutions that can be replicated in other businesses, or, addressing a particular eCommerce issue such as improvements in supply chain management, which other Welsh businesses would find of interest.

“The business has grown so fast this year that we couldn't have managed without the support we received from Opportunity Wales. We get so many enquiries and bookings that administration would be a nightmare without having standardised eMail replies, and on-line availability. eCommerce has enabled us to get on with the work we enjoy most - the renovation of the cottages.”
Greg Stevenson, Under the Thatch, Lampeter, Ceredigion

The level of eCommerce support provided to Exemplars will be basically the same although advisers will keep in regular contact over a longer period of time. Details of the business, its' eCommerce activities and any particular facets of the implementation which the eCommerce Adviser feels is useful, will be written into a detailed case study. Sensitive information will always remain confidential and the case study will only be published after approval by the business has been given.

SMEs will be nominated by their eCommerce Adviser and agreed with by the Opportunity Wales eCommerce Centre of Excellence.

Although it may seem like a long way between the first call to Opportunity Wales to becoming an exemplar, eCommerce can make a tremendous difference to a business in a relatively short space of time – so why wait? Contact us to find out how we can help you - it doesn’t matter what the current level of eCommerce and Internet technology usage is in your business.