However, the influence for change is primarily external, since nearly all change is governed by developments taking place elsewhere in the world. This is due to the fact that electronic business solution providers are developing products for specific markets, often with little regard as to how these solutions will integrate with or complement other solutions. As time passes ever more quickly in today's high tech world, many businesses will be left behind because they have failed or been slow to adopt e-business technology. City authorities are therefore increasingly seeking to encourage their local business communities to adopt e-business solutions, in order to remain competitive and increase prosperity. The profile of any city can be enhanced significantly depending upon the success of those enterprises located there.
Many factors contribute to economic prosperity.
In creating a critical mass of high technology companies, cities will always highlight local education standards, the availability of a well-educated and highly skilled available workforce, and the standard of Information and Communications Technology infrastructure as key factors in attracting inward investment. It is no doubt the dream of every city and town to have all of the above in abundance. However, cities have little or no control over the manner in which local enterprises, public institutions, and indeed citizens, increase their involvement with electronic commerce. This is by and large controlled by the sales and marketing efforts of private enterprises delivering essentially similar products and services in a variety of ways. To date no outside product or service exists to enable municipal authorities to influence or indeed control the degree to which all entities within a city or town environment participate in e-business.