Adoption of web site and e-commerce technology among Malaysian public companies

Purpose - This study examines the adoption rates of web site and e-commerce technology by all 562 Malaysian public listed companies, as of March 2004, testing the proposition that the number having web sites would approach 100 percent, and that most companies serving end customers would also have e-commerce systems. Design/methodology/approach - After identifying and testing company URLs for operability, contents of all operable sites were evaluated to determine whether they had incorporated e-commerce systems for online transactions. Findings - Of the 562 companies, only 62 percent (351) were found to have operable web sites; and of 351, 96 percent (336) were solely informational, leaving only 4 percent (15) that were equipped for e-commerce transactions. Research limitations/implications - Further research is needed on reasons and consequences for not adopting web site and e-commerce technology, and on specific business contexts surrounding adoption decisions and related managerial challenges. Practical implications - Analysis of findings and research literature strongly suggest that having a web site would give any public listed company a major advantage in the marketplace. The most effective web site implementation appears to require aligning new technology with company's strategic planning, integrating it into existing operations, using it to exploit new business opportunities and considering customer behavior theory when designing and implementing the web site interface. Originality/value - As the first study to examine adoption of web site and e-commerce technology by all currently existing Malaysian public listed companies, this provides a benchmark for further research on the subject.