On the Origin of Intermediary E-Government Services

The majority of SME's tends to outsource administrative tasks, including their direct relationships with the (electronic) government. Commercial intermediary service providers therefore have to be part of governmental multi channel e-service delivery strategies. This research paper explores the origin, added value and future position of these intermediary organisations with respect to the delivery of e-government services to businesses. Results indicate that (re)intermediation is more likely to Occur Within this context than disintermediation is. SME's do not want to be captured within a non-profitable electronic hierarchical relationship with a governmental Organisation. The empirical Study on the impact of the legal obligation of the use Of e-tax services illustrates that SME's instead prefer the 'save haven' of a commercial relationship with an intermediary service provider. Thus creating and fuelling a new market of intermediary e-government services.