The challenge of e-business for the South African apparel sector

Abstract

Innovation-intensive growth is exemplified by new information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as the internet and internet applications like e-business. E-business plays an important role in facilitating innovation by fostering greater networking in the economy, and making possible faster diffusion of codified knowledge and ideas. This paper explores the potential of ebusiness to provide a necessary lever to enhance competitiveness of the South African (SA) apparel sector. In particular, the paper critically discusses the opportunities, challenges and risks of e-business for the apparel sector. Despite strong theoretical arguments suggesting that e-business has much to offer the garments industry, the empirical evidence would seem to suggest that e-business in the SA apparel sector is still in its infancy. The paper proposes a number of policies designed to create an enabling and nurturing environment aimed at promoting and accelerating the diffusion of e-business technologies and strategies in the SA apparel sector.