With regard to electronic commerce itself i

For years, the official theme of the observers will have been the "French delay" in e-commerce. This somewhat catastrophic approach was, fortunately, significantly amended: the development of broadband and growth and the feminization of the population of Internet users eventually impose a new form of sales at distance even the Phantasmagoria of the insecurity of online payments seems to annoy.

However, curiously, the situation, which was not as catastrophic as could be imagined, incentive nor to a move to a more or less blind optimism. In fact, beyond the still insufficient equipment household, beyond the problems of unequal access, beyond the "digital divide" societal and territorial, the "e-commerce" (business to individuals or "B to C") and "e-business" (business to business or "B to B") are each an extremely worrying grey area.

With regard to electronic commerce itself, i.e. the sale to individuals over the Internet remotely, the boom has certainly held: habits are taken (thanks broadband), the numbers are significant and the rate of progression are promising. But, because there are a but further analysis of these data shows an extreme concentration, in terms of sectors and actors. Computing, travel, culture (books, disks, performances) on the one hand, major brands (ah! the SNCF and its captive customers! FNAC, 3 Suisses, and redoubt) on the other. A very limited number of actors in fact captures the essence of this e-commerce and other stakeholders, which is still very limited, play for the moment only a marginal role.

A second "but" seems much more worrying. Indeed, while all eyes converged with the e-commerce, has been somewhat overlooked the non-visible part of the iceberg, which, as everyone knows, is much larger in volume than the visible: e-business, i.e. the use of TICE (Technologies of information and electronic commerce) in the relations between companies.

Or that indicate the last European digits 36 of European companies have already purchased online; 18 in France. 6 participate in marketplaces against 2.3 in France. 16 selling online (we speak of B to B) compared to 9 in France! And the delay is more only to Great Britain; We are lagging behind from the Italy or the Spain! These figures are confirmed by the recent study by BNP Paribas Lease Group, which appears to show a worrying paralysis of SMEs to ICT investments on the one hand, and a great timidity to actual (beyond the single e-mail) use of these tools on the other hand.

The delay there is serious, because it is in the future competitiveness of our companies, their ability to adapt and increase their productivity. Of course, the slogans of the "worshippers of the Internet" were well radical; but it is clear that the change of methods of work, organization change, the change of the value-added chain, induced by the NICT condition today the survival and development future of our businesses.

However, facing this challenge, there is more that the large empty! The public authorities, local communities, professional organizations accompanied the movement... when he went alone! Trophies and competitions reward those initiatives innovative or exemplary, which added to the effect of mode. Now that the "e-business" benefits more "sexy" aspect and that this is precisely what that should be made of the efforts of promotion and belief, there are more great world! Even worse: there is no money no longer!

Therefore, call for a genuine "e-crusade":

that the departments concerned submit priority on this type of activity and a little money on the table (to at least revive procedure Ucip);

that will be conducted in March forced dematerialization of procedures (administrative reports, procurement...), because their training on the use effect is undeniable;

than the intermediate bodies (IAB, organisations...) are remobilizing, including for return to outreach activities, as "evangelism" thought completed remained surface and not allowed to acquire reflexes of use;

that the existing procedures (FRAC, guarantee fund Sofaris, tax research, insurance-prospecting... simplified credit) are oriented in priority on the adoption of the CTBT by the companies: the presence on the Internet (especially internationally) or the redeployment of this presence in terms of the experience for smaller companies, diagnosis of their situation, defining their priorities and the implementation of their change of organization of more significant size. Otherwise, it is feared that a greater part still of our companies disappear in the years to come... for the benefit, for example, China. Why China because, today, judging by the activity on a site such as worldchambers, the global portal of Chambers of commerce, Chinese companies are now the present (and the French among the more chilly).