The Influence of Web-based Enterprise Systems on SMEs’ Internationalization Process

Abstract

This paper is the first attempt to formalize and assess the internet-based enterprise systems (ERP II and e-CRM) concept as well as the importance of a formulated ICT- strategy on the internationalization process of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this study is to develop a logistic model that can be used to predict SMEs that are more likely to internationalize their operations both through the formulation of a new strategy - taking into account the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT-strategy) - and the use of internet technologies into enterprise systems (ERP II and e- CRM). Due to the relatively small sample size, the validation of the model was carried out via the non-parametric bootstrap resampling method. The results reveal the new factors that influence SMEs’ internationalization process. These new factors are closely related to the formulation of an ICT-strategy and the impact of internet technologies on the ERP II and e- CRM activities. Moreover, the results indicate that the SMEs with a greater ability not only to integrate the internet technologies into Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) but also to formulate an explicit strategy for the adoption and use of ICT have the potential to extend their activities on an international level.