The milk carton you used this morning was almost certainly designed on a computer, and this book was written on one. Look around you now and think for a moment about how technology affects you. Of all of the individual aspects currently influencing technology, the Internet must surely be the most significant. The Internet now pervades almost every aspect of the IT industry, as it does our daily lives. Any company that is not already on the Internet in some form or other is looking for a way to get on, because more and more an Internet presence can mean the difference between success and mediocrity.
Companies use the potential of the Internet in a variety of ways.
Some use it as a way of communicating their message to customers. Further, the potential customer base the Internet gives access to is in the millions. Others companies use it as a medium for supplying information or advice on their products, reducing the need for telephone call centers and operators. The Internet provides limitless opportunities to creative and entrepreneurial businesses. Perhaps the biggest driver of all for the Internet from a business point of view, however, is the development of e-commerce.