The quotation above comes from a General Motors executive pointing out the “greenfield” opportunity presented by emerging automobile markets. These markets are unencumbered with the dealer networks and the inflexible assembly lines that exist in the United States. As such, they are an excellent test bed for introducing E-commerce solutions — an innovative linkage — into the supply chain. The implication is that, for a world moving to E-commerce, the dealers and assembly lines have become weak links. Other trends include the move toward an intensifying focus on core competencies, globalization, outsourcing noncore activities, and suppliers expanding their services into new “space” and becoming stronger links.