INFORMATION HIGHWAY USE RISING RAPIDLY
By Adnews Staff
Two recent surveys showed that more people are taking the information highway. The surveys, conducted by Andersen Consulting of Toronto, reveal that 70% of companies are using it to provide customer service and support, and used by 40% are using the Internet to sell goods and services. Fifty-seven per cent of Canadian companies, including seven out of 10 in the entertainment sector, are using the Internet. One in four has established a World Wide Web site and half of the balance said they're likely to do so during the next year. Forty per cent of financial companies and 18% of all businesses regard using the new medium as essential to staying competitive. Among consumers, 70% said they've used automatic banking machines, 47% have dealt with interactive voice response systems and 29% are on the Internet - up from 12% in a similar survey conducted by Andersen last year.