A Government E-Business Assessment reveals Bermuda-based companies are taking advantage of e-Commerce tools that can boost their businesses:

Some of the findings of the report, which was released yesterday by E-Commerce and Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb, were as follows:

* 67 percent of all Bermuda-based businesses have a website for promotion and information purposes. Of that, 18.5 percent of the companies surveyed said they had interactive websites, including some being able to process online orders

* 36 percent of companies responding estimate that they will spend between one and four percent of their company's expenditure on e-business technologies

* 56 percent say e-business will moderately or overwhelmingly impact their organisation

* 54 percent use remote access devices (PDAs/laptops) for employees

* 54 percent use the intranet for sharing information within the company

* 34 percent use electronic payment techniques

* 58 percent use only broadband Internet

* 28 percent said lack of customer demand was the most significant barrier to e-business

* 26 percent decided to use e-business tools to be more efficient

* Keeping up with the competition (35 percent) and improving internal efficiency (31 percent) were very influential in a company's decision to integrate e-business tools

* 37 percent have experienced greater efficiency by adopting e-business tools

* Almost one-third (28 percent) of businesses saw improved internal efficiency as a very likely outcome of e-business

* 25 percent have sought advice on an e-business issue

* 24 percent looked to a qualified consultant for advice on e-business and 32 percent think that they should go to such a person for these issues.