| 5. The Internet is just
the means to making B2B work, not the end |
Some industries such as banking and car making have
had some form of B2B capability for many years. However,
they tended to use expensive and proprietary (closed)
communications systems to transfer and access information.
The Internet has simply enabled end-to-end communications
between any computers in the world at a much lower cost
than previously – whether the device is a PC,
mobile phone or large ‘mainframe’ computer.
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| Users of Internet based
B2B systems can be any place, any time – all they
require is Internet access, and the right security credentials. |
| An important result of the Internet is that
since distance is no longer a barrier to access and use,
when combined with permanently available web sites and
customer/supplier information, in a well-designed system
time is also no longer a barrier to business taking place.
The Internet allows two computing devices to ‘talk’
to each other by transferring data pre-formatted into
languages both can understand. One is normally referred
to as a ‘client’ – the desktop or
mobile computer on which the user requests some information.
The far end – which could be anywhere in the world,
local or remote – is the ‘server’
which processes the request and transmits the result
back to the client.
The user simply sees connects to a web site, loads
web pages, navigates by clicking on links and buttons,
fills in forms and uses the resulting information to
go about their business. |
| Obviously with this freedom
comes a logical concern – security. |
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All we need to say here is that as long as any system
is well designed and maintained (e.g. using firewalls,
authentication) an appropriate level of security for the
value and sensitivity of the trade in question. Buying
and selling via the Internet is no worse (and can be a
lot safer) than doing business via telephone, letter or
faxes. |
| Employees can use the
same B2B system interfaces as customers or suppliers. |
It follows that if suppliers and customers
share the same ‘user experience’ as employees
– albeit a more restricted view rather than the
entire system – there are several benefits;
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- Common design, development and
upkeep of systems reducing set-up / ongoing costs.
- Ability to train partners and
employees alike using the same programs.
- Employees can carry out ‘walk
through’ discussions with their customers /
suppliers on particular transactions, more rapidly
resolving any specific queries or changes.
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