Information challenges of internationalisation

Increasing competition and globalisation trends are challenging companies to expand the target markets for their products and services into foreign countries. The process of internationalisation necessitates many decisions. Adequate information about the target markets is required to support decision making and ensure the successful implementation of the internationalisation strategy. Among the relevant factors are market potentials, competitors, the legal situation, the sales organisation, and marketing events.

Solutions for SMEs

AMI-SME delivers a solution that meets the information requirements of international marketing and sales endeavours. AMI-SME aims to gather, analyse and process essential information for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that intend to enter or have recently ventured into an international market. SMEs that do not have the capacity to conduct detailed market analyses of their own are provided with a general framework that is further specified to facilitate country and industry selections. In addition to self-explanatory elements, consultancy services are offered for various activities in the internationalisation process.

Organisational and software results

The main outcome of the project will be a software package and an organisational concept:

• A methodological toolbox will guide SMEs on their way to internationalisation. It describes useful internationalisation processes, pinpoints critical success factors, reveals information demands and recommends information sources.
  
  
• A comprehensive information search and analysis tool will be accessible over the Internet. An information agent gathers information from within the company, from professional information providers and the Web, and presents the results according to the role of the searcher as well as the business process.