Google: Lack of SMEs online could hamper Ireland’s competitiveness

With 45 per cent of Irish SMEs lacking a website, the tech giant is concerned that a failure to embrace ecommerce could slow down Ireland’s economic recovery

Alice Mansergh, director of small business at Google in Ireland and Britain: ‘We want to celebrate what small businesses are doing in Ireland.’ Picture: Bryan Meade

Ireland’s SMEs need to engage more with consumers online according to Alice Mansergh, director of small business at Google in Ireland and Britain.

“Increasingly people are online researching what they want to buy and where they want to go, with 90 per cent of Irish people online and 80 per cent engaging in ecommerce but 45 per cent of Irish SMEs don’t have a website,” Mansergh told the Business Post.

“There are plenty of examples ...