Viewing business-to-business electronic commerce as an innovation: issues for management

Electronic commerce is creating a revolution in the way companies conduct business. E-commerce allows a company to streamline operations by integrating external systems and back-end processes, handle purchasing, order fulfillment, sales, marketing, and payment functions, and brings together enterprise systems, e-mail flexibility, and Web technology. Companies find that it is cost effective and efficient and, since it is still in its infancy, a strategic advantage can be gained. Here, the authors describe how, by interfacing external and internal business processes, it allows companies to streamline operations and cut overhead costs. The management of E-commerce innovation is considered by the authors in this paper