Roadmap to Exporting - Networking the World: E-Business for Exporters
Page Index
Are you B2B or B2C?
Are you already doing business electronically in Canada? If so, there may be a natural next step for you: using the Internet to connect your company to customers, partners and suppliers outside the country.
Many businesses have reduced their costs and increased productivity by using the Internet for sales, procurement, customer relations and communications. Even if you're not into e-business yet, it may be a logical next step and a very good way to break into exporting.
Depending on your product or service, you might want to concentrate on Business to Business (B2B), in which your transactions are entirely with other companies. Alternatively, your best model may be Business to Customer (B2C), where you deal directly with customers online.
A distinction has evolved between e-business and e-commerce. E-commerce tends to refer to online financial transactions alone. E-business includes not only online transactions but also other types of information exchange. Examples would be online servicing of customers, or communications with business partners.
Ebiz.enable
No matter what your current e-business position may be, you'll find essential information and help through Industry Canada's ebiz.enable site at strategis.gc.ca/ebizenable. This is a portal to resources that can help SMEs adapt and adopt e-business to the full range of their business functions.
The e-business Trade RoadMap, at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/dir-ect.nsf/en/h_uw00225e.html, is specifically intended for companies that are potential exporters of products or services. It runs the gamut from readiness assessment through generation of trade leads to electronic customer support.
You'll also find a tool to help you determine the potential Return on Investment new information technologies can bring to your business. The tool features a comprehensive ROI spreadsheet. See http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/dir-ect.nsf/en/h_uw00632e.html.
Ebiz.enable will also guide you to many other resources, from finance to case studies, that will help you develop your company's presence on the Web. If you need to know something about e-business, check here first.
E-business resources from BDC
For more e-business resources directly from BDC, go to www.bdc.ca and click the E-Business link. You'll find a selection of useful information about financing your e-business venture, as well as links to business tools and other sources of guidance.
BDC also offers a popular and affordable program called E-strat, short for E-strategy. It provides you with e-business fundamentals and the latest models and applications to help you make informed decisions as you develop your e-business action plan. You can work either within a group or one-on-one with BDC's e-business consultants. For more information, call 1 877 232-2269 or go to www.bdc.ca/estrat.
Other e-business resources
The Web has far more sources of information about e-business than can be listed in detail here. Three that you'll find useful are:
- Canada Business - The e-business link on the home page of this Government of Canada Web portal will connect you to a range of resources on e-business, including practical information organized by region. See canadabusiness.gc.ca.
- SourceCAN - Discover thousands of domestic and foreign e-business opportunities. Sign up to research or post bids and/or pursue strategic partnerships with a host of global businesses in this secure online trading environment. Go to www.sourcecan.com/E/index.cfm.
- The Canadian e-Business Initiative - You'll find this at www.cebi.ca. It's a voluntary, private-sector-led partnership that aims to further Canada's e-business success by focusing on productivity, leadership and innovation. Check out the Resource Centre and the SME Workbench for guides and tools.
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