Canada is also working in the international community to establish a global environment for business growth and consumer acceptance of electronic commerce. To this end, it demonstrated its commitment to global collaboration in October 1998, when the Government of Canada and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development hosted a major conference in Ottawa on international electronic commerce. The challenge now is to help Canadians reap the social and economic benefits of electronic commerce. Electronic commerce is more than simply buying and selling over Web sites. It also means using the Internet as a core part of business strategy and processes.
Many companies start with the idea of the Web as a marketing tool.
Without linking marketing to company operations and suppliers, however, the Internet falls far short of its potential. The real benefits of electronic commerce are realized by integrating all business processes. Networked companies are able to develop products, receive orders, communicate with suppliers, arrange production and delivery, and service customers - all with no delays. The results are reduced production costs and inventory, and improvements in order fulfilment and customer service. Assess your existing business processes, including sales, distribution, production, design and customer relations.