Overcoming Barriers to Adopting Electronic Commerce by SMEs in Developing Countries

This study indicates that e-commerce presents a promising avenue for organizations to navigate the challenges of an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment.Despite its potential, SMEs in developing countries remain hesitant and slow in adopting e-commerce technologies, often due to skepticism and structural limitations.Internal barriers-such as lack of awareness, skills, and strategic planning-can typically be addressed within the organization.In contrast, external barriers-such as inadequate infrastructure, policy gaps, and regulatory challenges-require intervention from government bodies or collaborative efforts among SMEs.This paper introduces a conceptual model for overcoming these barriers, developed through a synthesis of existing literature, exploratory pilot studies, and a comprehensive survey.In addition to identifying the key obstacles, the research highlights the types of support SMEs require to successfully transition toward e-commerce adoption.The methodology and initial findings provide valuable insights into the digital readiness of SMEs in developing economies and offer a foundation for future policy and strategic interventions.