eCommerce Strategy In A Multi-Sector Trading Environment . Quandaries For SMEs

For nearly a decade the potential benefits of Business-to-Business electronic commerce for business efficiency and competitiveness have been vigorously promoted by business, industry groups and governments. The belief underpinning policy is that from a small initial step, eCommerce will become a central part of their business strategies. This paper considers the use of B-2-B electronic transactions by SME suppliers who trade with buyer companies across diverse industry sectors in Australia. We investigate the links between their business strategies and their views of electronic trading. A survey of 240 crosssector suppliers nationwide found little evidence that electronic trading was integrated with their overall business strategy. We suggest an approach to the understanding of cross-sector electronic trading strategies that emphasises the complex, inter-connected but fragmented trading milieu rather than describing the balance between drivers and barriers that operate for the individual firm.<br /

Integration of Supply Chain Execution in B2B Marketplaces- Experiences for Networks of Small and Medium sized enterprises

Though B2B-marketplaces are still in the early phase of their existing, they had been subject of various adjustments. We can even identify several evolution steps in their development during the past few years. One of the most important developments is the integration of logistic services and the focus on the achievement of new business value through combined strategies involving e-business and Supply Chain Management (SCM). In particular for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) linking forces using B2B-marketplaces with supply chain optimization functionalities opens new horizons to improve inter-organizational processes. In this paper we outline the relationship between B2B-marketplaces and SCM and we argue that both concepts converge within modern models of B2B exchanges. A case study undertaken at a vertical marketplace in the furniture industry illustrates the results achieved through the integration of SCM functionalities with this marketplace