Business Strategies for Electronic Commerce

Abstract

Organizations are continuing to extend their use of IT in support of new business processes which not only affect internal sharing of information, but impact on the electronic exchange of information and business transactions with their trading partners. In the past, conducting business electronically referred exclusively to the use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for the exchange of transactions such as purchase orders and invoices with trading partners. However, the world has changed — new ways, electronic ways, of conducting commerce between companies have resulted in a much wider adoption of messaging and information management technologies than just EDI. However, to be successful, organizations need to develop appropriate business strategies for electronic commerce that direct internal resources appropriately, ensure consistency with corporate goals, serve to strengthen business relationships, and secure that elusive competitive advantage.