simple as establishing a computer-mediated relationship between consumer and business, between business and supplier, or between supplier and manufacturer. It could involve automation of existing business systems, such as transaction or manufacturing processes. On the web, electronic commerce often means marketing, and online sales. Typically there are three types of e-commerce transactions: business to business, business to consumer and consumer to consumer. It took radio 34 years to reach 50 million listeners. It took TV 13 years to reach 50 million viewers, but it only took the internet 4 years to reach 50 million users. (qtd. on E-Marketer.Com)200 million people use the worldwide web today; 500 million will use it in less than 3 years. (qtd. In Future Magazine) Consumers are shifting their buying power in favor of the internet. Online shopping was up 330% in 1998. (qtd. In USA Today)As much as the Ice age changed the face of the earth, e-commerce is doing the same for business today. In todays business world were seeing new departments and new positions being created where ten years ago, there was no need for an Internet Technology dept. or a Chief Information Officer. Today, theyre an integral part of every successful business. Even gigantic organizations see the internet as a threat. It took Wal-Mart 12 years and 78 land stores to break $150 million in sales. AMAZON.COM did it in three years with a web site and a warehouse. (qtd. Business 2.0) In 1996 I entered the online banking world, as my nearest bank branch was on the opposite coast some 3600 miles away from me. It was intriguing and risky; people thought I was foolish trusting that my bills would be paid via computer. In 1997 I wanted a new car. After test driving the make and model I wanted but not finding the exact car I wanted, I turned to the internet ra...
