One popular use is Web Querying , which is a step before full Internet commerce capability. A customer is able to login to a vendor through the Web using an ID and password. A menu is then accessed where the customer is allowed to check order status, product information, product pricing, availability of inventory items and any open receivable. There s no charge to the customer and it provides competitive advantage. There is no online ordering being performed or credit card information processed, which is part of I-commerce.
Vendors allow their customers to access select parts of their system.
This improves customer service, making information available to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.