scope:

Introduction

The whole area of electronic sales platforms has passed through an important phase in recent years. Following the exaggerated hype in 1999/2000 which gave way to the depths of disillusionment in 2003/04, we are now in a period of consolidation. A particularly important aspect is the optimisation of productivity and the integration of all parties involved in the economic process, starting from SMEs right up to global enterprises.

The integration of electronic markets and businesses alters the behaviour of the markets and business partners. New market players are crowding into business relationships, and ever more individual services are being offered. In addition to this, customers are becoming less reluctant to change suppliers, and business processes are becoming increasingly anonymous.

The purpose of this guideline is, primarily, to analyse the factors influencing electronic commerce (e-commerce) and to outline the basic facts in order to create greater transparency so that, for example, mediumsized companies can be given an idea of the chances, risks and benefits of the use of e-commerce. In this context, more recent developments are taken into account and there is an outline of the influence of logistics and of relationship marketing on the quality of industrial supplier-customer relations in the area of procurement on electronic markets.

This guideline does not deal with the technical implementation as, at the time of going to print, it is still not possible to make any binding, qualified statements with regard to a standard in the application of e-commerce systems.

The guideline serves as an aid in the introduction of e-commerce solutions from the point of view of e-fulfilment and does not represent a complete description of all technical possibilities and circumstances as this would exceed the scope of the guideline.