Implementing an e-Business Strategy

It takes several years to actually implement the strategies needed to truly become an e-business. In fact, a recent study suggests that we will be implementing e-business strategies for the next 5 to 7 years. By then, e-business will just become "business."

In order for a company to actually become an e-business, its business practices and Internet technologies need to become fully integrated. Companies need to reinvent order processes and workflows, and people need to learn to adapt to these new ways of conducting business.

Some of the business practices and processes you may want to consider realigning include:

• Pre-production, production, and post-production workflows


• Forms, paperwork, reports, job tickets, etc.


• Personnel roles, job functions, job descriptions


• Departmental structure


• Inter-company, customer, and supplier communications methods

Implementation of an e-Business Strategy may require cultural changes in your company. Company owners and management must be willing to change the very way they do business if they expect to maximize their investment in e-Business technology. They must take an active role, even if only to monitor the implementation progress. This will demonstrate to employees that the new technology and related changes in the company are supported by the management and owners.

The most difficult part of becoming an e-business is "people". Companies will achieve greater success by educating their staff. You can accomplish this by hiring industry consultants, attending seminars, and subscribing to e-business publications.