International trading SMEs technological readiness level: A research on companies operating in the textile sector in Istanbul

The aim of this study is determine the technology readiness levels to exports of companies that are engaged in international trade, to examine the technology level of products produced by international trading companies, to evaluate the importance of the companies to the R & D infrastructure and to examine the activities and results related to E-commerce. The survey was conducted on 9 companies, which still operate in 2018. The work is focused on textile companies. After the documents of the level of technological readiness as the measurement tool in the research were examined and the sample to be done of the study was determined, the interviews were realized with standardized open ended interview method and interpreted with descriptive analysis. In this study, the level of technological readiness and the concept of SME is explained and the literature about technological readiness level is examined. The importance and export of SMEs are emphasized and the technological aspects of export are handled and the levels of using technology in the export of SMEs and their readiness to technology are revealed through interviews with firms. In this context, the effect of technology on export performance of SMEs is explained. As a result of the study, it was determined that the personnel of the interviewed firms approached the technology with optimism and reliability, the adaptation with technology was fast and the firms did not use E-commerce effectively in terms of marketing. It has been concluded that the companies do not attempt to expand after getting the first international connection at the import stage, and that they usually meet with the intermediary who has started to work and that they try to reach other customers through internet and catalog. It was concluded that the companies that opened to foreign markets without using the vehicle were the desire to enlarge their market. As a result of the findings obtained in the research, various suggestions are made.