The barriers to export and the internet

Exporting is one of the most common means used by firms to start doing business in a foreign market, especially small and medium size firms. Even though the benefits originating from export activities may be substantial, various potential problems can arise and threaten the success of the operation. Several researchers have argued that an effective use of the internet can help companies to reduce and/or remove some of the barriers that companies face when dealing with foreign markets, providing a low-cost ‘gateway’ to international markets. In our research, we found that internet tools could help companies in their exporting strategy. However, the experience is still important for companies that could not rely solely on the internet to approach foreign markets.