University Study: Majority of Companies Braking on the Information Highway

AUSTIN-The Information Highway has more than a few roadblocks. A majority of companies are significantly under-utilizing the power of the Internet, says Dr. Andrew Whinston, one of three study co-directors for the Center for Research in Electronic Commerce at the University of Austin.

The finding is the result of a study, sponsored by Dell Computers, in which 1,200 businesses in the US and Europe have been polled. This year in particular has marked the startup of scores of commercial real estate sites, an industry that traditionally has relied upon one-on-one contact for transactions. But, says Whinston, the industry has a long way to go in making Internet real estate work with the brick-and-mortar world.

Whinston told GlobeSt.com that commercial real estate is falling short by not thinking along more progressive lines, such as Internet auctions for leases, sales and buys. “It’s basic economics,” he says. “It should be that way, but whether it will be I can’t say.”