Are enterprises from lagging regions digitally connected?
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abstract
The present work was developed under the CRECEER
project that receives financial support from the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the INTERREG
V-A Spain-Portugal program (POCTEP) 2014-2020.
This study focuses on how enterprises located on
lagging regions are using online resources and how can they
enhance their usage. Most companies have transitioned to the
“online world”, however, in rural and more deprived regions, it is
perceived that companies still have difficulties accessing some
online resources or accessing qualified workers in ICT areas. As
such, this paper focus on 29 enterprises from the northeast of
Portugal, a recognized lagging region. In the context of an
international project, CRECEER - creation of business
cooperation networks in rural cross-border regions between
companies in the gourmet agri-food and tourism sectors, the use
of ICT was analysed, what online tools were used and what could
be done to improve their ICT use in their business.
As a result, it was found that the majority of the companies only
had a minimal investment in business online tools, they are not
aware of the majority of cloud computing software, and they do
not use it in their business. Even though the studied companies
were willing to evolve digitally, they recognized the severe
restrictions they had, namely the requirement of specific currently
unavailable knowledge, the necessity of qualified workers that
they couldn’t afford, and even the hardware necessity they
couldn’t supress.
It is clear that for these companies had it not been the CRECEER
project, even the smallest changes and improvements, would not
be achieved in a short period. It is rather crucial to have European
funds dedicated to enhance the ICT competencies of these
businesses.
This study focuses on how enterprises located on lagging regions are using online resources and how can they enhance their usage. Most companies have transitioned to the “online world”, however, in rural and more deprived regions, it is perceived that companies still have difficulties accessing some online resources or accessing qualified workers in ICT areas. As such, this paper focus on 29 enterprises from the northeast of Portugal, a recognized lagging region. In the context of an international project, CRECEER creation of business cooperation networks in rural cross-border regions between companies in the gourmet agri-food and tourism sectors, the use of ICT was analysed, what online tools were used and what could be done to improve their ICT use in their business.As a result, it was found that the majority of the companies only had a minimal investment in business online tools, they are not aware of the majority of cloud computing software, and they do not use it in their business. Even though the studied companies were willing to evolve digitally, they recognized the severe restrictions they had, namely the requirement of specific currently unavailable knowledge, the necessity of qualified workers that they couldn’t afford, and even the hardware necessity they couldn’t supress.It is clear that for these companies had it not been the CRECEER project, even the smallest changes and improvements, would not be achieved in a short period. It is rather crucial to have European funds dedicated to enhance the ICT competencies of these businesses.
