The IE domain registry (IEDR) is set to extend the Optimise fund which is aimed at raising awareness of the extent to which small businesses in Ireland are slow to harness the potential revenue of the internet.
The fund provides 10 Irish businesses with €10,000 worth of consultation, training and e-commerce development support services to upgrade their current online presence. Part of this will include an upgrade in e-commerce capability and functionality. Services can include the incorporation of real time payments, an online catalogue or booking facilities.
IEDR's Domain Name Industry Report, published in 2010, showed that just 66% of Irish businesses had a website by 2009, compared with 40% in 2000. Of the 66%, only 21% had any e-commerce capability. A receent study in 2011 valued Irish e-commerce at €356 million.
Last year's winners include a Dublin based fashion label, the National Leprechaun Museum and a kart racing company.
David Curtain, chief executive of the IEDR, said: "[We are] committed to helping the small business community realise the long term value of having a website which is fully e-commerce enabled in order to take full advantage of the Web's 24-hour sales and marketing channel."
Applications are open to the owners of Irish SMEs and micro-businesses with a .ie website. Online forms are available at www.why.ie/optimise with the closing date for entries is the 25 May.
Fiona Donnellan