Business window to the world

1 August 2000

Ballarat and regional businesses have the opportunity to have a bigger impact on domestic and global markets with the launch of the MainStreet.au.com internet portal. The portal was created by the Chamber of Electronic Commerce - Western Victoria to provide the region with online access to a range of products and services. It includes a local 'what's on' calendar, the MainStreet.au.com directory, local news, weather and access to a range of information from around the region. MainStreet.au.com Project Leader, Helen Thompson said the portal was a great opportunity for businesses to have a web presence. "In our research we found that high costs and a lack of specialist IT skills were barriers to a greater entry to the online world" she said.

MainStreet.au.com was developed after a study last year found a cohesive online strategy could help regional businesses. The strategy was put into action by the University of Ballarat's Centre for Electronic Commerce and Communications on behalf of the not-for-profit Chamber.

The portal would be ideal for businesses requiring a cost-effective base to list products and services online. It aims to help businesses develop and market new products and services while reducing administration and transaction costs. The portal also aims to develop a competitive advantage over a business competitor by streamlining operations and securing existing market share from new online competitors. Browsing the portal's webpage and its user-friendly layout makes it simple to locate businesses in the region. "In Ararat for example we now have over 80 businesses up and running on Ararat Online, a sub-community of Mainstreet.au.com" Ms Thompson said. "We have also completed an eCommerce mentoring program with a number of the businesses to get them to the next phase." Information about regional manufacturers can be found on the portal's Central Highlands Manufacturing Database.

Tools are also available to assist individual businesses or whole communities develop an online presence and the portal gives businesses with their own websites the option of being linked to the online directory.