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Present and future of the use and impact of information and communication technology in informal microenterprises: Insights from India
Author(s) -
Ilavarasan P. Vigneswara
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the electronic journal of information systems in developing countries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.41
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 1681-4835
DOI - 10.1002/isd2.12091
Subject(s) - icts , information and communications technology , business , developing country , industrial organization , knowledge management , marketing , economic growth , economics , computer science , world wide web
Using Indian cases, the present paper argues that the usage of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in informal microenterprises in the developing world is still at a nascent stage. The use is mostly limited to mobile phones and the personal domain. The impact of its usage on the growth of the enterprises is also limited. The characteristics of these enterprises, which are predominantly walk‐in customers, smaller size, and the nonuse of electricity, can explain the low usage and impact of ICTs. The future pathways for linking ICTs and informal enterprises are discussed in the light of emerging automation technologies. It appears that low‐cost ICTs like mobile applications are likely to play a significant role in the growth of such enterprises, which needs to be studied in the future.