It's very simple really: "e-business" means using the Internet or related technologies for any of your normal business operations. You might use it for buying, selling, advertising, managing — you name it. You may use the Internet to reduce costs, improve productivity, or increase revenue (and it can do all those things). But, whatever your use of the Internet, the point is: it's not magic, it's business.
Online Opportunities
All of the 1001 things an owner or manager does every day offer possibilities for Internet-based, e-business solutions. E-business can include any and all business functions: sales, marketing, customer relations, industry and competitive intelligence, procurement, general management, or human resources.
Is E-Business for Small Business?
One thing we've learned is that e-business is applicable to large and small businesses. The big companies might steal the headlines and the Internet start-ups may draw all the attention. But, in fact, any business that uses the Internet and related technologies to do what they do is an "e-business". This section explains how there is more risk in avoiding e-business then in embracing it.
Action Items: What to do first
Here are some concrete things you can do to start putting e-business to work for you today.
