8129.0 - Business Use of Information Technology, 2000-01  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/03/2002   
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MEDIA RELEASE

March 20, 2002
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
25/2002

Business continue to embrace information technology

Use of Information Technology (IT) by Australian business has continued to increase, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

At June 2001, 84% of businesses used a computer (up from 76% in June 2000), 69% of businesses had Internet access (up from 56% in June 2000), and 22% of businesses had a web presence (up from 16% in June 2000).

A key indicator of the likelihood that a business uses IT is its employment size. For example, at June 2001 virtually all large businesses (those employing 100 or more people) used computers or had Internet access, while 81% had a Web presence. In contrast the very small businesses (those employing fewer than 5 people) had a lower level of technology adoption, 79% used computers, 64% had Internet access and only 14% had a Web presence.

While the number of Australian businesses using IT has continued to increase, so has the use being made of the technologies. For example, during the year 2000-01, the proportion which purchased goods or services via the Internet doubled, increasing from 10% to 20% of all businesses. Over the same period, the proportion selling via the Internet increased from 6% to 9% of all businesses.

The single biggest reason for Australian businesses not adopting information technology continues to be the perception that the technology is not suited to the nature of the business. This was given as the main reason by more than one-third (37%) of businesses not using a computer, 44% of businesses without Internet access and 48% of businesses without a Web presence.

Further details are available in Business Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2000-01 (cat. no. 8129.0).