Changing Business Realities?: The Implications of E-commerce Technologies for Rural Non-Farm Businesses

Abstract

Substantial changes to businesses as a result of e-commerce technologies have been widely predicted. Threats to certain types of businesses have been foretold, but at the same time, many new opportunities are said to be opening up.The aim of this study was to assess the current state of play regarding the impact of e-commerce on inland, non-farm businesses in rural regions. These businesses merit special attention because they are already adapting to a range of other challenges suchas changes to competition and tax regimes, continuing structural change in agriculture and, especially in inland Australia, the loss of population and services. In this context, the 'distance-dissolving' potential of e-commerce could be both the source of further challenge to them and a unique opportunity for them to achieve further efficiencies and build a wider customer base.¹The study sought to examine how e-commerce technologies are changing or likely to change the way business is being done in rural towns and regional centres. ... The study focused on the impacts ofe-commerce on these businesses rather than on its impacts on the towns as a whole. The findings describe the reality of the impacts of e-commerce technologies on nonfarm rural businesses and alert these businesses to ways of better capturing future benefits.