Firms set to increase e-commerce sales from new training package

Citation

(2001), "Firms set to increase e-commerce sales from new training package", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 33 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2001.03733bab.007

Firms set to increase e-commerce sales from new training package

Firms set to increase e-commerce sales from new training package

Keywords: Sales training

Research published by IT trainer, Hemsley Fraser, indicates that a shortage of skills is preventing many companies from exploiting the sales opportunities of e-commerce.

The growing number of customers on the Internet offers many organisations the chance of reaching new local and global markets. Hemsley Fraser has introduced a training portfolio, "The Internet Professional", to bring marketing and selling on the Web within the grasp of every business.

The study found that most organisations are not using the Internet to generate sales because they lack the necessary skills. A gap exists, with only 11 per cent of respondents using the Internet for selling, as opposed to 40 per cent who buy from it; 44 per cent of businesses are missing out on reaching new markets because they do not have the skills to effectively exploit the e-conomy.

Respondents identified the key Internet marketing skills to be:

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  basic IT/network (44 per cent);

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  e-commerce (31 per cent);

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  editorial (29 per cent); and

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  marketing (28 per cent).

Hemsley Fraser's comprehensive programme of 24 courses is designed to help the non-technical managers reach their key audiences. Courses cover Internet marketing, how to make your Web site profitable, and the specific writing skills needed to get your message across. To implement an Internet marketing strategy, technical training is available, for example, "Adding E-commerce to your Web site".

Gail Burch, IT trainer, comments: "The Internet is today an increasingly integrated part of the way you can communicate with your customers, but most organisations have barely scratched the surface of its potential. To be able to market successfully on the Internet requires an understanding of its capability, an awareness of what your competitors are doing and the skills to give your Web site real presence. Hemsley Fraser is helping organisations use the Internet to create an effective customer focus".

For further information, contact the Hemsley Fraser Training Group at St James Court, 74-94 Fore Street, Saltash, Plymouth PL12 6JW. Tel: 01752 849000; Fax: 01752 848101; E-mail: jackson@hemsleyfraser.co.uk; Internet: http://www.hemsley fraser.co.uk