Bahamas e-commerce

[Konop1]

Does anybody else think that the government's plan to make e-commerce a "third pillar" will not work? What is the main problem? Not letting in foreign workers. Even the USA with their huge educational system imported hundreds of thousands of foreign tech workers in order to build up their e-commerce. And the Bahamas is STILL trying to keep out foreigners from taking "our" jobs. The reality is, that in cyber space, the jobs can be anywhere. We have to fight for the jobs and make it as easy as possible for foreigners to come and work in high tech so that we can learn from them and build up this vital part of the economy.

[Delroy]

Does anybody else think that the government's plan to make e-commerce a "third pillar" will not work? What is the main problem? Not letting in foreign workers. Even the USA with their huge educational system imported hundreds of thousands of foreign tech workers in order to build up their e-commerce. And the Bahamas is STILL trying to keep out foreigners from taking "our" jobs. The reality is, that in cyber space, the jobs can be anywhere. We have to fight for the jobs and make it as easy as possible for foreigners to come and work in high tech so that we can learn from them and build up this vital part of the economy.
I am glad you started this topic Konop. :tup:

E-commerce can work but you must first know how to make it work.
Right now the cost of export from the Bahamas is too high even for the brick and mortar world so before we can launch anything in regards to businesses online; the government needs to review costs in the real world.

[Joe Baboon]

The reality is, that in cyber space, the jobs can be anywhere.This is both a good thing, and a bad thing. At the moment there is a great whooshing sound (to paraphrase good 'ol Perot on NAFTA) of jobs being sucked overseas. Tech support and software develpment are two of the biggest areas effected. Why hire High School educated people in the US for minimum wage (what is it now, $5.50/hour?) when you can get CS majors in India for half of that. Throw in a few hundred VoIP 1-800 numbers, stick them all in a big warehouse full of desks, and badda bing, instant call center. It can be done with auto-manufacturing, textile goods to a lesser degree, because import restrictions and taxes can be placed on such goods. How do you place a tax value on an IP packet?

We need to be VERY carefully with the whole push for the Internet and e-commerce. What if all the offshore banks and fund management companies stuck their traders somewhere overseas, and only had a facade here in Nassau. Not good.

We need to be focused on doing GOOD work, taking PRIDE in what we do everyday, and not whining and *****ing about every little thing. Provide a superior product.

[Konop1]

Just as an example, it seems that many of the Bahamas related websites are made by foreigners... at least the good ones. Sites where you can see properties to visit, rent homes, hotel websites.. they are all built in the US. Do you think Atlantis had their website done in the Bahamas? No, they had it done in Florida, with the same climate, almost same location and high taxes. Why is that when these companies would pay no taxes in the Bahamas?

[Delroy]

Just as an example, it seems that many of the Bahamas related websites are made by foreigners... at least the good ones. Sites where you can see properties to visit, rent homes, hotel websites.. they are all built in the US. Do you think Atlantis had their website done in the Bahamas? No, they had it done in Florida, with the same climate, almost same location and high taxes. Why is that when these companies would pay no taxes in the Bahamas?

This all will change very soon Konop.

Trust me.

[Rory]

Just as an example, it seems that many of the Bahamas related websites are made by foreigners... at least the good ones. Sites where you can see properties to visit, rent homes, hotel websites.. they are all built in the US. Do you think Atlantis had their website done in the Bahamas? No, they had it done in Florida, with the same climate, almost same location and high taxes. Why is that when these companies would pay no taxes in the Bahamas?

Ive got 3 web sites:

ASPbahamas.com
BahamasSecurity.com
KnowlesRealty.com- my main web site

All leading bahamian web sites, and all built here by me, a bahamian.

Also, i write internet software which i sell online, mainly to non bahamians as bahamians are not interested in it yet. Been doing this for over 5 years now. In fact when i started there were very few bahamian web sites existing. They only started popping up over the last couple years, probably due to coralwave's cable internet, and cheaper computer prices.

Id like to see some links that you refer to, because all of the professional bahamian web sites ARE produced here.

Atlantis's web site is a foreign company, so they used whoever they use for their other web sites.

ECommerce? Ive been doing it for a couple years now,selling software online, using my own software, and using a 3rd party merchant account, receiving US checks by mail. As for using a local bank for my sales, NO WAY, they charge way too much for a small business as myself. If they drop their fees and operate as the 3rd party merchants do, such as not charging a montly fee, however taking a percentage of each sale, then i WOULD use them.

[Rory]

This all will change very soon Konop.

Trust me.


delroy, is this guy saying this website is not a 'good' web site! how dare he :-)

JKiddin

[Delroy]

delroy, is this guy saying this website is not a 'good' web site! how dare he :-)

JKiddin
Well he isn't the first one to think that Rory :D

[Konop1]

Well, let's just say i come here for the quality of the conversation, not the quality of the forum per se ;)

I dunno, if you guys think that things are fine and dandy than I guess who am I to say? But I still think you'd be hard pressed to find a hotel web site done here, and although I think thyme-online is doing a pretty good job, I would be extremely surprised to see that all the training of their staff was done here.

And you use ASP rory? good god man what are you doing??? A slave to microsoft! ;) jj

[Rory]

Well, let's just say i come here for the quality of the conversation, not the quality of the forum per se ;)

I dunno, if you guys think that things are fine and dandy than I guess who am I to say? But I still think you'd be hard pressed to find a hotel web site done here, and although I think thyme-online is doing a pretty good job, I would be extremely surprised to see that all the training of their staff was done here.

And you use ASP rory? good god man what are you doing??? A slave to microsoft! ;) jj


yes ASP. no slave to anyone, i can do anything i want to with it, and its free also. What do you recommend?? PHP? I was doing ASP before PHP came on the scene. They are all so very similar, just gonna stick with one and be the best :-). Im converting my asp scripts into php right now also anyway, so i can hit another market of developers, and may go perl script also, as there are still alot of old school developers out there.

It would be nice if a local bank would do what the 3rd party merchants offer in the US, so no, everything isnt fine and dandy.

As for training, there really is not much to it. You need experience with the internet to really get good at it. A classroom isnt all there is to it. In web development, most good developers train themselves in the long run, especially when it comes to new and updated technology.

As for hotel sites, most if not all major hotel sites are foreign owned so they use the same company, or more than likely in house, web development team.

Also, a hotel web site is not hard to make pretty, as for any web site to be good, it needs content, and they have alot of it, alot of great photos :-)

[chancellor]

I don't think that businesses are either not getting the full concept of e-commerce or just not taking it to thier advantage. Lots more companies are placing the store on the internet, but its just info. I'm still waiting for someone to put their merchandise on-line so i can buy. Imagine the customer base you can have. This reminds me of the US in the roaring 1920s. Large department stores( macy's bloomingdales, sears-roebuck) invented the mail order catalog. This enabled the family in small distant towns and rural communities who are far away from the big city to buy the necesities and luxuries through the catalog. in earlier times, this would have taken several hours to get to the city.(i love american history!) Anyway. This can be translated to our time. The internet can alow people in the family islands to gain access to goods and services that they never would have had. The main idea of e-commerce is to actually sell over the internet. notice the word commerce?

[Konop1]

ASP is not free.. not free like "free cookies" and not free like "free speech". It is owned by Microsoft, mostly served with Microsoft products like, win-doze, SQL server or *shudder* Access. (and a side of fries) which all cost money. Also, whenever they come up with some great idea like ASP# or A$P or whatever, it will likely require a wholesale upgrade. It's a darned good thing you are converting to PHP and PERL! :)

And the point about foreign owned websites is that they are where all the money is. The Atlantis website is worth probably hundreds of www.bahamasissues.com, even if the Atlantis site does suck.

[Rory]

ASP is not free.. not free like "free cookies" and not free like "free speech". It is owned by Microsoft, mostly served with Microsoft products like, win-doze, SQL server or *shudder* Access. (and a side of fries) which all cost money. Also, whenever they come up with some great idea like ASP# or A$P or whatever, it will likely require a wholesale upgrade. It's a darned good thing you are converting to PHP and PERL! :)

And the point about foreign owned websites is that they are where all the money is. The Atlantis website is worth probably hundreds of www.bahamasissues.com, even if the Atlantis site does suck.

ASP is freely downloaded, and so is the new ASP.net and any developer technology, it is ALL FREE. You sound like a die hard mac user so I wont even bother elaberating. If you use windows then you are only biting the hand that feeds you. :-)

As for money, thats because they are HOTELS making a ton of money, as opposed to small business. If i made a porn site id get more hits on any day, than all of these together(if in fact they even get that many hits). Its not entirely about design, its about what they have to offer and the need for something.

As an example, one of my web sites, had over 600,000 hits during the month of October.

[Alien]

Does anybody else think that the government's plan to make e-commerce a "third pillar" will not work? What is the main problem? Not letting in foreign workers. Even the USA with their huge educational system imported hundreds of thousands of foreign tech workers in order to build up their e-commerce. And the Bahamas is STILL trying to keep out foreigners from taking "our" jobs. The reality is, that in cyber space, the jobs can be anywhere. We have to fight for the jobs and make it as easy as possible for foreigners to come and work in high tech so that we can learn from them and build up this vital part of the economy.
it can work....
but.....
what have they done to prepare us for it?????
where are the kids studying e-comerce in schools???
where are the consultants...heheheh
when will central bank kick it off??????
where are the new scolarship initiatives for the people wanting to do it????
yes it will make certain tasks obsolete,but it will create a new market,so get us ready!!!!!!
:what: (panic strikes the room)

[diarra]

I agree with the comments made regarding the e-commerce issue.

My concern is fundamental in essence and maybe this forum can shed some light.

I have read as much of what has been made available by the Government regarding their e-commerce commitment. It seems sensible but is it really structured to compliment the academic and social structure of the Bahamian society which it would govern. There are areas of e-commerce that have paralized even the American computer industry. Outsourcing which once still meant within ones borders is now a nightmare to the employment base for the field. It has however increased the academic and performance level of those who compete for jobs and contracts. I think it goes further than where a website is designed, it touches the academic exposure of the young and old within the Bahamas to high level computer services. Sure i can sell my coconut tart over the internet but how much of each dollar collected will honestly stay in the Bahamas. If the bacbone services are foreign contracted.

I believe the Bahamian computer web designers should be encouraged to establich high level backbone services to get a jump on the sure to come impacts of e-commerce. We will need Certified Security Specialists, Computer Forensic Scientist's and the like. We will need data-mining services and database specialists, programmers and customer relationship centers.

If the attainment of these talents is encouraged I feel the salaries will come into line for the services offered.