In response, businesses throughout the world are changing their organizations and their operations. They are getting rid of old hierarchical structures and tearing down the barriers between company divisions, and in some cases installing new workplaces, such as the home. They are lowering the cost for the company and its customers and suppliers. Business processes are being re-designed so that they cross well into the information age. We see many examples of processes that span the entire company and even processes that are owned and operated by the company and its customers or suppliers.
Electronic commerce is a means of enabling and supporting such changes on a global scale.
It enables companies to be more efficient and flexible in their internal operations, to work more closely with their suppliers, and to be more responsive to the needs and expectations of their customers. It allows companies to select the best suppliers regardless of their geographical location and to sell to a global market. Electronic commerce is technology for change. Companies that choose to regard it only as a nuisance to their existing ways of doing business will gain limited to no benefits. Major benefits will accrue to those companies that are willing to change their organizations and business processes to exploit the opportunities offered by electronic commerce.