August 5, 1997

ENTERPRISE SURVEY RESULTS: DIGITAL FINANCE AND YOU

Edited by Dennis Berman

Forget about fives, tens, and twenties. The future of currency really belongs to 1's and 0's -- the binary code which powers computer communication. So say the dozens of users who responded to our latest BW Enterprise poll: "Digital Finance and You." (Polls are currently only available to AOL users. Visit AOL keyword: BWEnterpise.) Over 80% of the the group agrees that in the future, electronic currency will be as common as dollar bills. More immediately, nearly half of those polled expect electronic transactions to change their business within the next 12 months.

Transaction safety, however, is still a concern. Only three percent of poll-takers say they trust electronic transactions "completely." Two-thirds of the group say that while they personally conducted electronic commerce, they still held reservations about cyber-payments.

The complete survey -- and its results -- follows below. Remember, the responses don't reflect scientific poll-taking but are simply the answers of those who chose to respond.

1. I use, or have used, some form of digital financial transaction (including sending a credit-card number, trading stock, or buying CyberCash via the Net, or using electronic banking software)

72.4% Yes
24.1% No
3.4% No opinion/not applicable

2. In the future, electronic currency will be as common as dollar bills

41.4% Strongly agree
41.4% Agree
6.9% Unsure
6.9% Disagree
0.0% Strongly disagree
3.4% No opinion/not applicable

3. I trust the security of electronic transactions

3.4% Completely
65.5%With some reservations, but not enough to stop me from making them
24.1%With enough reservations to prevent me from making them, though that could change
3.4% Not at all
3.4% No opinion/not applicable

4.In the next 12 months, I anticipate my business changing because of electronic financial transactions

44.8% Agree
20.7% Disagree
31.0% Don't know
3.4% No opinion/not applicable