• SMEs are different from large firms
• SMEs are probably in better shape to meet the present challenges
• Main areas of applications :

- automatic internal processes
- electronic communication
- electronic commerce

• Factors affecting IS success in SMEs

- organisational characteristics
- actions from within the organisation
- complexity / characteristics of the application
- internal expertise
- external expertise support

• Simplification:

- interoperable, user friendly systems with multilingualism facilities
- allow new business practices and promote standards

• Deployment, partnership, synergies:

- promote the exchange of information between different initiatives / projects across Europe
- enhance the catalyst role of the region and local partnerships
- testbeds and best practice pilot projects should address implementation issues, constraints and focus on results (G7 initiative)

• A new way of doing business:

- an easy access to valuable information (mediation)
- tools and techniques for one-to-one marketing
- tools and techniques for validated / certified product / service information
- new forms of inter-organisational relationships / partnerships between SMEs
- new forms of SMEs (information intermediaries / virtual companies)

• The role of the governments:

- financial help for innovative applications and for solutions to overcome these problems (local partnership establishments)
- a clear and neutral legal and tax environment