Online SME sales: Positive figures

YESTERDAY’S report from the European Commission that Irish small and medium businesses are the biggest seller of online goods in the EU marks a considerable achievement. 

The European digital progress report ranked Ireland first out of 28 member states when it comes to SMEs’ use of the internet to sell products or services, with 32% of the companies selling online, double the EU average.

This ticks so many positive boxes: The use of technology to overcome geographical disadvantage, a willingness to change to expand, and an acute business awareness.

Allied with yesterday’s figures showing unemployment dropped to 8.3% in the first quarter — from 9% in the previous quarter — and that youth employment fell to 16.9% in the first quarter, down from 21.5% in the corresponding 2015 period, they must inspire confidence.

The onward-and-upward air around these figures is another confirmation of the potential that might be released when the promises around nationwide broadband services are finally delivered.