eBusiness

What is eBusiness?

EBusiness is best described as a business management model incorporating various tools, techniques and practices designed to take advantage of computer networks and the Internet. There is no single definition for eBusiness or single strategy for adopting eBusiness. However every strategy involves transforming all or parts of a company's internal and external business processes to electronic enabled means.

Why eBusiness Makes Sense

There are many levels of integrated eBusiness functionality. Even at "entry levels," businesses can serve customers better, improve cost performance, and realize productivity gains. If you are a company that wants to grow, competitive advantage will be a certain struggle unless eBusiness becomes a part of your strategy. Customers and suppliers are placing more and more pressure on many manufacturers to employ eBusiness processes. A company should understand what level of eBusiness integration fits its particular business outlook. Does your company know how it should embrace eBusiness?

To quickly see how your company scores on eBusiness readiness, take a few minutes to complete an online assessment.

Getting Started Is Important

The Internet is rapidly expanding the markets available to all buyers and sellers. Growth is no longer limited by geography. New competitors are emerging for all businesses. The expansion is powered by technology enabling not only access to information but also the ability to transfer great amounts of complex information in extremely short periods of time. At the most basic transaction levels, advantage can be gained. Consider...

" If any entity in the value chain begins to do business electronically, companies up and down the value chain must follow or risk being substituted"

—Dr. Ravi Kalakota and Marcia Robinson
from "eBusiness—Roadmap for Success",
Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. 1999

What Should I Be Doing?

Four basic steps will position your company to reap the benefits made possible by computer and telecommunications systems and Internet technology. The Maryland Technology Extension Service can assist in each of the areas.

1. Knowledge and Training: Gain sufficient knowledge and skill to evaluate, implement and support business operations employing eBusiness technologies and applications. This is a continuing requirement with rapidly advancing technological growth. MTES offers two basic eBusiness learning opportunities to get a company started.
   
   
   • a one hour interactive presentation designed to increase the participant's awareness of the issues and importance relating to the adoption of eBusiness practices.
     
     
   • a 4 1/2 hour eBusiness fundamentals course covering basic technologies and considerations involved with the implementation of a useful and productive web site.
     
     
2. Assessment: Determine the nature and level of current business processes having high potential for producing improved efficiencies, accuracies, timeliness, enhanced customer service, greater market presence. This is an on-site business process evaluation leading to an eBusiness Opportunity Matrix and a report of findings and recommendations for eBusiness implementation.
   
   
3. Strategy: Develop a strategy identifying the elements of eBusiness best suited to complement your present business outlook and goals. This is an essential step if a company expects to realize the most benefit from today's high-tech, information rich market environment.
   
   Working with the company's management or eBusiness team, MTES consultant uses the results of the assessment to assist with the development of a prioritized set of eBusiness objectives and implementing action plans.
   
   
4. Start the Transformation: Implement the highest priority strategic eBusiness objective. Gain the experience and reward of internal resource or supply chain efficiencies allowing you to see other opportunities more clearly.

Links

• www.bcentral.com
  Easy-to-use online tools that help small businesses run their better business.

• www.brint.com
  Business and technology portal for eBusiness, information, technology, and knowledge Management.

• cyberatlas.com
  CyberAtlas is the Web marketer's guide to online facts with valuable statistics and Web marketing information.

• www.ecommercetimes.com
  eCommerce news site with headlines, stories and special reports.

• www.informationweek.com
  Online magazine for news and information for the information technology sector.

• www.internet.com
  An industry portal for the Internet.

• www.internetwk.com
  Online magazine with internet specific news and information.

• www.mep.nist.gov
  The Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program's site for eBusiness information.

For additional links, see the Useful Links section of this web site.

Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more about our services, contact Robert Barazotto.