After being the subject of countless discussions among academics, futurists, and computer enthusiasts over the past decade, electronic commerce or e-commerce has in the past few years come of age and is now an increasingly important element in the business strategy of many small firms. Close to 1.2 million small businesses are actively using their Web sites to market and advertise their businesses. None of these findings are surprising.
Money moves at nearly the speed of light.
The Internet is the tool to compete in the global marketplace, and to reach new sales goals. Government officials and national surveys have only to look to Wall Street to find evidence of the increasing respect that e- commerce commands in the marketplace. The same company saw the price of its stock rise 1,300 percent in 12 months. The trend continues for other e-commerce businesses as well. The growth of e-commerce continued with the 1998 holiday shopping season.