Fearing a growing digital divide between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large companies, some governments have tried to encourage SME participation in e-commerce by sponsoring regional Internet platforms for them. These initiatives are predicated on the belief that online platforms provide a low-cost introduction to e-commerce, while at the same time delivering benefits to SMEs. However, very little academic literature exists on how to assess the success, or evaluate the benefits, of these platforms. This study looks at three such platforms in Western Australia. It synthesises...