Cisco roadshow preaches e-business

Networking company Cisco is going on the road to preach the benefits of e-commerce to small and medium businesses.

"We have the impression that the internet economy has missed New Zealand so far," said channel and marketing manager Suzanne Hansen.

"Cisco itself has cut $800 million from a $2.4 billion budget by moving its processes to the internet. Along the way it has learned a lot of best practices which we intend to share."

The company will present its five-step approach with partners Xtra, esolutions and ASB Bank. It expects to spend about $200,000 on the roadshow.

The half-day E-Day Business Forums start in Invercargill on October 9 and end in Auckland on October 20.

Ms Hansen said there was a lot of home internet use for information-gathering, but New Zealanders did not buy much over the net.

"What we don't have is a great number of innovative companies doing commerce on it."

She said companies should start with small, short projects.

"It's do-able now if you cut it into small chunks. If it doesn't work in, say, 30 days, throw it out. The whole thing is changing so fast, people can't afford to do a two-year project."

People can register for the forums at www.cisco.co.nz

Links:

www.cisco.co.nz