In view of the growing traffic problems, fast urban expansion, population explosion and the social difficulties Saudi women face in establishing their businesses independently, the importance of electronic interaction cannot be ignored.
It could offer a technical solution to many of the problmes Saudi women face and help them accomplish most of their work on their own. However, there are many intellectual and logistical problems, including weak infrastructure.
Many countries face the same issues and similar problmes, but they have been able to overcome the hurdles in applying theory into practice and forge ahead.
In our country, both the government and the private sector must work together to overcome these hurdles successfully.
For instance, a solid system of e-transactions requires a sound mail-delivery system that is affordable to all. The Saudi Post has been upgraded with modern communications and technologies, but the public needs to be made aware of these efforts.
Postal services are one of the main elements that help facilitate electronic transactions. How can women shop online without being able to rely on postal delivery of their merchandise? Businesses, too, must be able to depend on delivery of their shipments to customers.
When and if we can change the concept of e-transactions into a sound system that is not only dependable but also creates jobs and opportunities then women will be done a great service.
Least of which will be less time in traffic.
Ask men how they suffer from snarling traffic and lack of parking and they would definitely endorse anything that would reduce their drive time, such as being able to get much of their business done through the information highway rather than the conventional one made with asphalt.
