Major new survey shows high take-up of e-commerce in sector April 11, 2002 -- E-commerce Minister, Douglas Alexander, today published a major new survey that shows the UK's printing industry is taking up the challenges of the e-commerce revolution. The survey looked into the impact that e-commerce has made on the UK's fourth largest industry which has a turnover of more than £13 billion. The study, commissioned by the DTI and conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, questioned more than 100 printers, trade associations, suppliers and customers within the commercial printing sector. Key findings show: - 93% of firms communicate with external e-mail, above the national average of 87% of firms "on-line"; - 70% of firms have a website; - 74% of firms communicate with suppliers and customers through an ISDN line, and nearly 50% through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI); and - more than 50% of companies plan to take orders through their website in the next two years. Douglas Alexander, speaking at IPEX 2002, the leading industry exhibition, welcomed the results of the survey. He said: "The printing sector is an example of a flexible industry that has always embraced the benefits that technology can offer. "The sector has made excellent progress adopting e-commerce and developing e-business solutions, which are helping to transform the way it works. But there is no room for complacency and plenty of potential for increasing the use of e-technology through out the sector. "Our research is central to the Government's aim of making the UK the best place in the world for e-commerce. It highlights the new opportunities and ways of working that e-commerce offers. It also addresses the major issues that businesses need to tackle if they are to remain competitive in the modern high technology world." Douglas Alexander also announced the forthcoming publication of a UK online for business guide to e-commerce for the printing industry. The guide will give help and advice to businesses wanting to adopt e-commerce. A DTI led workshop for industry representatives will be held on 11 April. It will aim to lay the groundwork for a strategy and action plan for the industry. The DTI has worked closely with the industry in recent years, providing financial support for a number of key industry led initiatives. The Government is committed to ensuring that recommendations of "Print 21", the competitive analysis of the sector, are followed through. It has recently started discussions about the viability of a Printing Industry Forum.