The power of the Net lies in technology's ability to leverage its efficiencies and open standards to empower customers. Give customers the power to dictate their trading processes and partners and you win. Markets will become more virtual and selective, not centralized and open. As more trading partners connect, it is even possible for buyers, for instance, to create purchasing alliances for negotiating purchase contracts. An Example Let's take a hypothetical example based on what has been observed many times in the dot-com world.
Mills are the suppliers, fabricators are the buyers.
All transaction data would be centralized so all parties could retrieve information with which to make more informed decisions. The Net Market's business model was built on receiving a percentage of transactions from the sellers, while buyers received services free of charge. But things did not turn out so easily. The biggest mills refused to participate. Without the major mills, buyers would have to establish new relationships and trusts with new, smaller suppliers.