THE LEVEL OF E-COMMERCE ADOPTION IN SMES: THE CASE OF TIRANA, ALBANIA

Abstract

This Electronic commerce has enabled a competitive market, and as a result, many companies are considering changing their business models to be as competitive as possible. Managers believe that the use of e-commerce provides them with better relationships with customers and suppliers, improved business processes, and an essential part of the business today. To make the most of e-commerce applications, businesses are redesigning their processes, trying to achieve the same thing in different ways. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face increasing competitive pressure as a result of globalization and market openings, driven by new technologies and innovations. They need to find efficient ways to cope with these challenges because we are dealing with long-term and growing challenges. To survive and thrive in such a competitive environment, they must develop competitive advantages. This requires knowledge, financial resources, and economic flexibility. SMEs play a significant role in national economies. The purpose of this paper is to measure the level of adoption of e-commerce applications among SMEs in Tirana. To achieve the above goal, the following hypothesis has been formulated and tested: H1: The longer a company's lifespan in the market, the more willing they are to adapt to e-commerce applications. H2: Internal company factors influence the adoption of e-commerce applications. H4: The higher the pressure from consumers and suppliers on the company, the more willing they are to adapt ecommerce applications. H5: The more support from companies offering training for e-commerce applications and from the government, the more inclined companies are to adopt its applications.