ABSTRACT
E-business is the execution of transactions by electronic means, and is becoming increasingly commonplace, with companies displaying particular interest in its commercial potential. It creates opportunities for streamlining the existing business processes and making management more efficient, thus increasing the value of products delivered to customers. The concept of the customer being able to access information relating to the products he or she intends to order occupies a central place in an e-business. P. Rotering describes two types of e-commerce, both illustrating how useful the Internet can be for doing business. Both forms mainly concern the purchasing process: electronic markets and catalogue systems. The e-commerce working group within the Dutch Association of Logistics Management has examined the consequences of e-business for logistics and supply chain management. Logistical service providers who intend to enter the market for e-logistics must therefore make sure that their information systems are properly equipped for this new venture.
