EDI A set of standards for structuring information that is to be electronically exchanged between and within businesses, organizations, government entities and other groups. example: for purchase orders to automate purchasing the standards describe structures that emulate documents. The term EDI is also used to refer to the implementation and operation of systems and processes for creating, transmitting, and receiving EDI documents.

B2B Electronic commerce transactions between businesses, as opposed to those between businesses and other groups, such as business and individual consumers or business and government

B2C Activities of E-businesses serving end consumers with products and/or services Example: flight airlines

C2C electronic commerce involves the electronically-facilitated transactions between consumers through some third party Example: eBay

C2B Electronic commerce involves the electronically-facilitated transactions between consumers through some third party

E-procurement Supplier Exchange - is the business-to- business or business-to-consumer purchase and sale of supplies and services through the Internet as well as other information and networking systems, such as Electronic Data Interchange and Enterprise Resource Planning.

Online Auction participants bid for products and services over the Internet. The functionality of buying and selling in an auction format is made possible through auction software which regulates the various processes involved

Online Catalogue Information about products made available in electronic form via the Internet. Often incorporate voice and video

Ecommerce Consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks

Ebusiness Any business process that relies on an automated information system. Today, this is mostly done with Web-based technologies

ebXML Electronic Business using eXtensible Markup Language - typically referred to as, is a family of XML based standards sponsored by OASIS and UN/CEFACT whose mission is to provide an open, XML-based infrastructure that enables the global use of electronic business information in an interoperable, secure, and consistent manner by all trading partners.

Ecommerce Benefits Introduce Another Channel To Market Lower the Cost of Order Processing No Physical Space Limitations Buy and Sell Quicker Boost Sales With Exports Exchange and Share Data Across the World Update Employees Instantly With New Policies or Procedures Hold Web Meetings (Data Conferencing) Use the Internet to Improve Business Administration Introduce Collaborative Working

Ecommerce Limitations Credit Card security is a serious issue if vulnerable Costs involved with bandwidth and other computer and server costs Extensive database and technical knowledge and experience required Customer apprehension about online Credit Card orders Constantly changing technology may leave slow businesses behind Some customers need instant gratification, and shipment times interrupt that Search utilities far surpasses the speed used to find products through catalogs

Ecommerce Safety Serious issue! Multiple deprivation of service attacks on e- commerce web sites 2/6 - 2/11, 2000 Security of data, proprietary business information Impact on the volume of sales and on the bottom line.