The use of information and communication technologies as a critical success factor for marketing in Turkish Agri-food companies

In the mid to late 1980s, the rapid growth in computer networks and online services directed companies, including those in the agri-food industry, to use information and communication technologies (ICT). As a result of this progress, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) need to change to remain competitive in the rapidly changing business environment of the twenty-first century through the use of Internet and Web sites. The use of ICT as communication and marketing platforms provides agri-food SMEs considerable advantage. The main aim of this article is to examine the impact of the Internet and Web sites on the marketing of Turkish agri-food SMEs and to obtain information about the uses of ICT by these firms. This is reported by a two-stage survey undertaken by the Turkish agri-food directorate (KOBI).