Are we ready for E-commerce?

The Construction Products Association, in partnership with the Construction Industry Computing Association, has published the results of a survey on attitudes towards e-commerce in the construction industry.

The results reveal an industry slow to make change but confident that the 'internet revolution' will have a real impact on the future direction of the construction sector in the UK.

Currently only 5% of activity in the construction industry is conducted via the internet. This is expected to double in the next 12 months and triple again by 2004. By 2005 it is predicted that 50% of transactions will be carried out via e-commerce.

Commenting on the results, Michael Ankers, chief executive of the CPA, said: 'Too many people still fail to recognise that it is not just the high-profile internet companies that are benefiting from the e-commerce revolution. Electronic trading is just as important to industries such as the construction sector and provides another important tool for ensuring our long-term competitiveness and success.'

The CPA plans to conduct the survey annually in order to track the industry's response to e-commerce.