E-business to promote European single market

Survey A report from market research company Forrester said that e-commerce is likely to accelerate market harmonisation in Europe. According to the report, Europe's eZones, progress towards the single market is tardy because of an unwillingness to change regulatory environments and through established trading patterns. But e-commerce will allow companies to use the inherent efficiences of online trade to take advantage of opportunities in other countries. According to the survey, pockets of cross border e-commerce will develop fast and as new products and services enter the target market, local competition will be forced to follow suit. Forrester surveyed 20 large European corporations and 14 vendors supporting their online strategies. It also spoke to regulators, industry organisations, boffins and standards bodies. ®