Theme: B2B E-Commerce
Issue 34, May 15, 2000
Dear friends,
I'm seeing a fairly rapid change in business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. Here's the evolution:
- EDI -- mainly for larger companies, using expensive private networks, now moving to the Web with opportunities for small businesses.
- Standalone B2B online stores
- Vertical Marketplaces developed by trusted third parties
- Vertical Marketplaces developed by key vendors
In this issue I'll be discussing some of the trends I am seeing, and give you some tips on how to get in on what's happening. In June we'll complete the multi-part series on increasing the conversion rate in online stores.
God bless you,
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Editor
P.S. Here's a quote from the June 2000 issue of Reader's Digest for businesses that may be putting off setting up their own e-commerce capability. "Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor." -- H. Jackson Brown, Jr., A Hero in Every Heart (Thomas Nelson).
How B2B E-Commerce Software Differs from Retail
Low-end shopping cart programs often don't usually fill the bill for B2B e-commerce. In this article I talk about the specific needs B2B storeowners have, and point out both high-end and low-end software that can meet some or all of those needs. Read the Article.
How Small Businesses Can Use Affordable Web EDI
A brief overview of EDI, and how smaller businesses can take advantage of its drastically reduced costs. Read the Article.
The Rise of Online B2B Marketplaces
The latest trend in B2B e-commerce is a rush to marketplaces and exchanges in each industry. This article helps you understand what these marketplaces will do, the pros and cons, and the special opportuntities for small businesses. Read the Article.
Sidebar: Will Online Marketplaces Displace Online Stores?
Vertical marketplaces can display your entire catalog. Do you really need your own B2B standalone e-commerce capability? Yes, argues the author. Read the Article.
B2B E-Commerce Resources
See Web Commerce Today, November 15, 1997, Issue 4 for other articles on B2B E-Commerce http://www.wilsonweb.com/wct1/issue4.htm
While our E-Commerce Research Room tends to emphasize retail e-commerce, we have hundreds of resources on B2B e-commerce available for you.
