Local companies ranking low for conducting business on the Internet

Jamaican companies have received favourable ratings from a global report for their ability to adopt new technology and their capacity to innovate.

However, local companies got a poor grade in the area of doing business over the Internet.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Report 2015 ranks Jamaica 61st out of 143 countries based on the extent businesses adopt new technology.

Jamaica earned a score of 4.7 out of seven, which means 67 per cent of businesses in the country are close to being considered as extensively adopting new technology.

The country had a lower score but higher ranking when judged on the extent to which companies have the capacity to innovate.

Jamaica scored 4.0 out of seven to be ranked 53rd in the world.

Seven represents to 'a great extent' and one means 'not at all'.

Jamaica is ranked in the bottom half of countries in the world who use the Internet to conduct business.

Jamaica ranked 93rd out of 143 countries when judged on the extent to which businesses use the Internet for selling their goods and services to consumers.

Meanwhile, Junior Minister in the Technology Ministry, Julian Robinson, says the reason for the low ranking is largely due to the small number of Jamaicans with credit cards to conduct Internet transactions.

However, he says this situation will be improved with the introduction of mobile money.