What is e-Business?

e-Business is the term used to describe the information systems and applications that support and drive business processes, most often using web technologies.

e-Business allows companies to link their internal and external processes more efficiently and effectively, and work more closely with suppliers and partners to better satisfy the needs and expectations of their customers, leading to improvements in overall business performance.

While a website is one of the most common implementations, e-Business is much more than just a web presence and there are a vast array of internet technologies all designed to help businesses work smarter not harder. Think about collaboration tools, mobile and wireless technology, Customer Relationship Management and social media to name a few.

Lots of Solutions
Every business can benefit in some way from using e-Business. Simple, low cost or free technology is available to help you:
 

• Improve external product promotion and internal communication through effective e-marketing.
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• Increase sales through effective deployment of e-commerce technologies.
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• Streamline business processes with integrated back office systems.
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• Reduce communication and travel costs using online meeting tools and shared workspaces..
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• Maximise lead conversion by using CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems to track and monitor interactions with prospects and clients.
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• Improve supplier relations and productivity through collaborative tools and workspaces.
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• Benefit from licence-free open source software alternatives to proprietary software.

So whether you're already up and running with an e-commerce site, communicating across the globe with customers, or simply using email to broadcast product news and information, there is an e-Business Application that can be used to further improve your company's performance.


The National B2B Centre
The National B2B Centre is focused on helping growing businesses in the West Midlands create a future advantage - positively changing the efficiency and effectiveness of companies' operations and business processes - through the deployment of eBusiness.


e-Business Help
If you believe that technology could be the key that unlocks the potential of your business, but you aren't certain how it could best be used or what is required, then use the "Request Help" facility, send us an email or just give us a call on 02476 574384. Our advice is entirely impartial and free to small businesses located in the West Midlands region of the UK.

Further Information
There are a variety of e-business related articles, guides and tools on the B2B Centre website to help you develop your thinking on how technology can make a difference to what you do.

• "Beyond your website: How do you use technology to transform your business" by Martin King-Turner, Director of the B2B Centre is an introducton to the thinking required to make step change with tecnology.
• "The Chaffey Column", written by e-business expert Dr. Dave Chaffey of Marketing Insights appears regularly in our newsletter.
• "How can SMEs create a future advantage" provides a view from all the members of the B2B Centre team on how SMEs make a change and what technologies they  should adopt.

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