Knowing what to look for - and watch out for - makes e-commerce cost-effective and as painless as possible.
In last month's article, we explored two concepts about e-business that are often overlooked: (1) Successful Web sites can perform cost-effective functions besides electronic order entry, and (2) there are alternatives to a wholesaler buying software and then hosting its own Web site. This month we'll outline an effective e-business strategy.
An e-business site is not a cure-all for every distributor's problems. To thrive in the face of competitors who will exploit e-business, some wholesalers will have to structurally change the way they do business, then center the new business around their new e-business capabilities. Here are some suggested steps to developing an e-business strategy: