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There are lots of Internet business opportunities available.
Read about some of the trends and issues which are shaping
the world and creating possibilities.
The More
Things Change, the More They Stay the Same:
The tried and true basics of business will be back –
to remind us of the old-fashioned principles that still
seem to work, even in this new Internet-enabled world.
Profitability, revenues and proven processes will be
key.
The New
Economic Environment: Although we are already
mired in the New Economy, we are just at the beginning
of the changes, as brick and mortar companies race to
be successful online, and dot.coms try to dethrone established
companies’ brands. There will be more consolidation,
hybrids, partnering, and new business models that will
shift the mix and balance of power.
A New
Internet-enabled World: In the not too distant
future, the use of the Internet will be routine, rather
like electricity, as the comfort level with the technology
and this method of doing business evolves. Not only
will more of our work and personal lives be connected
because of the evolving technology infrastructure, but
more integrated as well. Processes and functions that
we use in the workplace will make their way into our
homes. A total Internet-enabled world where every IP
appliance can coordinate an exchange transaction with
or without a human guide, is right around the corner.
Customers
Rule: With the Internet, customers have gained
considerable power to choose with whom they will do
business, where and when. The need for intense customer
focus and exemplary customer service will continue into
the future, as customers remain central to the growth
of e-commerce.
Better,
Faster and Maybe Cheaper: With continued learning
and experimentation, companies will build better products
and services by utilizing the multiple capabilities
of their own companies and also their partners. Price
may still be a determinant in customers’ buying
decisions, but value received is becoming more important
than price by itself. New ways to conduct business enabled
by technology will lead to many new opportunities for
companies, with improved choices for customers and more
efficient payment mechanisms for the exchange of value
between parties.
Business
Models and Value Webs: Just when you thought
things were settling down with business models, be prepared
for more changes. Improvements in efficiency of the
supply chain and logistics, disintermediation and continuing
complex are part of the future.
New Standards
and Rules Create Opportunity: There has been
much controversy and discussion about privacy and security
and how it affects e-commerce. Quite often, new regulations
and laws can be perceived as just more bureaucracy that
gets in the way of doing business. However, as security
issues are mitigated and standards are commonly deployed
for security and privacy, new opportunities will actually
be created for business.
Evolving
Infrastructure and Tools: Many advances have
been made in integrating front office and back office
systems both in a company and via the ASP/MSP model.
Technologies that improve speed, collaboration or integration
of processes will be a requirement for survival and
growth in the future.
The New
Face of Marketing: As companies continue to
wrestle with issues about online and offline branding,
we are entering a new era of personalization. Marketing
will be faced with implementing new approaches in the
Internet-enabled world.
New Dimensions
for Growth and Evolution: As today’s
leaders make decisions about tomorrow’s growth,
there are many factors at work in this new environment
that will make a huge impact. Technologies such as wireless
and portable computing will provide more ways to access
the Internet, and require companies to provide content
accordingly. The world marketplace means greater demand
for products and services, and companies need to figure
out how to build businesses across geographic boundaries.
We are faced with much growth in the next few years.
Whether it happens slowly or quickly, we all need to
be armed with the lessons we have learned so far to
be better prepared to meet all the challenges of the
brave new world.
Bonus
Trend - Peer-to-Peer Commerce Takes Off: Ebay
is remarkably successful and first coined the concept
of C-C commerce. The original Napster also helped demonstrate
that peer-to-peer commerce may be the most widely participated
business model on the Internet. Having passed legislation
of digital signatures, with SET (Secure Electronic Transactions)
individuals can swap digital files, and create an encrypted
transaction contract; non-repudiation of the event between
the buyer and seller. Individuals will begin to conduct
peer-to-peer commerce using digital cash, with new and
existing players trying to be the financial intermediary.
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