​The objective of the workshop is to introduce the businesses to available opportunities to utilize e-Business; and also to conduct an e-Commerce assessment of these businesses, which will inform an overall OECS e-Business Strategy with a focused approach to e-Commerce.

The e-Commerce Diagnostic Assessment involves an audit of the firms’ knowledge and use of e-commerce and other e-business tools by using a questionnaire to collect data from the firms. It will draw upon the data collected from the questionnaire and actual e-Commerce work by firms participating in the exercise. This will allow the OECS to review the existing use of e-Commerce, and determine the scope for industry-based business-to-business networking and collaborative technological sharing solutions as part of a market–based, market-driven approach, that will ensure practical, implementable solutions in this area of business development.

The workshop also includes a basic introduction to e-Business and e-Commerce, which will focus on topics such as online branding, Website development and hosting, marketing and advertising, e-Transactions including digital signature, and consumer privacy.

According to the OECS EDU, e-commerce provides opportunities for reaching customers in distant markets without the cost of establishment or the use of intermediaries. It is therefore necessary to develop this platform to enable enterprises within the OECS to become more competitive and cost-effective in the global marketplace.

The OECS-Export Development Unit developed the e-Business program as a key strategy to enhance the competitiveness of firms, facilitate trade and increase the profitability of firms in the region.

The e-Business workshops will be held in Montserrat on Aug. 26, and in the British Virgin Islands on Aug. 28.