Factors Influencing E-commerce Adoption by SMEs in Sudan – Qualitative Analysis

E-commerce’s impact on small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) has received significant attention in research. Much research on e-commerce adoption among SMEs in developing countries has been conducted. However, few studies exist to explain the success of SMEs in Sudan in adopting e-commerce systems. The paper investigates the factors which influence e-commerce adoption by SMEs in Sudan. The study used semi-structured telephone interviews as a qualitative research approach to achieve its goal. The primary qualitative data were collected to explore the factors influencing e-commerce adoption in Sudanese SMEs, and analyzed using ‘Deductive Content Analysis’. Utilizing the TOE theory, this study highlighted many main factors that affect SME enterprises during e-commerce implementation. The study identified three significant challenges: technological, organizational, and environmental. The qualitative data analysis revealed a significant relationship between each of the six variables (compatibility, IT knowledge, Management Support, Perceived Cost, Competitive Pressure, and Government Support) and electronic commerce usage among small and medium-sized companies in Sudan.