E-commerce plays an increasingly important role in the way in which products and services are purchased.

E-commerce systems such as your website can be used to market and sell to customers, and to provide after-sales support. E-commerce can also be an important part of strengthening relationships and improving the efficiency of your dealings with suppliers and other key trading partners.

The key issues to consider when planning for the introduction of e-commerce. It provides advice on how best to identify the opportunities for e-commerce within your business and the solutions available. It also emphasises the need to plan for the ongoing development and maintenance of any e-commerce system at the outset.

E-commerce impacts upon almost every function within a business. The interested parties within a business include:

• top level decision makers
• purchasing
• inventory management
• manufacturing
• service provision
• direct sales
• fulfilment
• post-sales support
• marketing and PR
• accounting
• training
• legal

Externally, a variety of suppliers will also need to be involved within an e-commerce project including:

• existing hardware and software suppliers
• specialist internet hardware and software suppliers
• programmers, web designers and consultants used on an 'as required' basis
• internet service providers
• domain name registrar
• telecommunication providers
• major suppliers
• major customers
• advertising/marketing design agencies
• specialist business media
• accountants/auditors
• solicitors
• training companies

information from the business link website