ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a methodology based on business factors to assess the readiness and likeliness of the development of e-Business and e-Commerce between the disparate players in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) projects. The AEC sector has embraced e-commerce and e-business, as demonstrated by case studies that illustrate the use of electronic collaborative and commerce platforms by the different AEC players. The initial use of the Internet technology for business purposes had mainly an informational function. The emergence of the virtual marketplaces has dramatically changed the use of transactional function, with contractors, suppliers, builder merchants, consultants and clients exchanging request for quotations, orders and invoice. A small number of production units and firms in a network, and these with reasonably homogeneous size, IT capabilities, and streamlined processes are clear facilitator for e-business deployment, particularly for collaboration fimction. The assessment graphic does show that the Input-Output structure of the network is the main hindrance to developments and sophistication of the system.
