This study is a comprehensive overview of an important era in which consumers will be accorded the opportunity to modify how they conduct their business. It highlights the technological and strategic issues confronting marketing, planning, financial, product development and systems executives, vendors as well as industry consultants. It is quantitative and informative in approach with 31 tables and 9 figures. In the report, there are profiles of 40 companies considered to be the primary agents of change over the next six years. This report concerns the consumer side of the electronic commerce spectrum.
Electronic commerce means many things to many people.
Our definition is the initiation of a transaction by a consumer via a personal computer, or remote device with similar characteristics such as a screen phone, network computer, or information appliance which enables the procurement of goods and services. The so-called corporate side, entailing such areas as the Intranet, EDI, EBT, etc., is not covered in this study. Primary information was provided through interviews with officials of major companies which will play a role in developing the electronic commerce phenomenon. Secondary information was obtained through government and industry publications and company annual reports and press releases. These information sources have enabled BCC to define electronic commerce as it exists today, and project where it will be in 2001.