E-Commerce |
E-Transactions |
E-Branding |
E-Marketing |
B to B

E-Business

The use of the Internet as a marketing tool or medium has already proved to be a major development for many companies. A simple, economical approach for all to use, offering low-cost, world-wide access to your markets. E-Business is a term covering all aspects of this important development.

<*dv_1*>The Internet was not designed. It has evolved. And the way people use the Internet is changing. In some aspects the change is rapid, in others it is more gradual. But what is noticeable is that many organizations do not understand the on-going developments, some beneficial, some detrimental. Manufacturers are now offering their wares for sale directly by way of the World Wide Web. This is a major change and sales can possibly be completed more efficiently for the manufacturer; on the other hand, the agents, distributors, and retailers could end up missing out on such sales.

ERIN advises its corporate client base on how to identify and define their requirements before coming up with a solution. It may not be difficult to take a corporate decision to launch a WebSite. But why? What do you want to achieve? If the answer is based on competitors being there or other unsubstantiated reasons, then the justification is deficient. The reason should be based on identified and justified business requirements.

<*dv_0*> One major component of the Internet is e-mail. Businesses which have integrated such facilities can make substantial savings in both communication charges and staff time. However, many individuals do not understand its use and for example feel the need to print a copy of each message received and sent. This is wasteful of both time and material and undermines the benefits achievable.

The other major Internet component, the World Wide Web, can also be mis-used. A WebSite should be designed and used to assist the organization in becoming more efficient, using the Internet instead of letting the Internet use it. Electronic Commerce is a term which itself has evolved. At ERIN, we recognize that another philosophy has replaced the term and relegated it to a sub-set of what it once purported. Electronic Business (e-Business) covers a multitude of activities on the Internet, including Electronic Commerce, Electronic Transactions, and Business-to Business (B2B).

Not only has the way organizations publish information on the WWW changed, but so too has the way in which people use the Internet. The integration of Electronic Mail with WebSites and databases and the way it now includes other interactive features is already providing much more opportunity than has previously been realized. Without knowing it, many Internet users are taking part in on-line research projects and surveys, often sponsored by advertisers who gain valuable insight into user trends.

Up till now, companies interested in marketing their services and products over the Internet envisaged more problems than advantages. The view of limited market potential, concerns about security, legal constraints, and the difficulty of setting up effective Web Applications are some of the reasons why business managers in general have not invested heavily in on-line services. This has changed. Evolution continues to accelerate.