Perspectives
To many larger corporations, SMEs may not be of particular interest; possibly used as local suppliers, but not typically perceived as potential global business partners or competitors. With regard to a particular new type of SME, this assumption is no longer valid.
Within just the last decade, a new breed of SMEs has emerged. Unlike traditional SMEs, which are primarily local in their outlook and customer base, these new SMEs are global operators that make extensive use of e-commerce solutions. Their avid adoption of technology has also allowed them to maximise the business agility inherent in their relatively small size to support their atypical business models. This article examines the important implications this new breed of SME has for larger corporations.