世纪商务英语unit-6.docVIP

PAGE PAGE 41 Unit 6 网上商务 Background knowledge Electronic business Definition Electronic Business, or e-Business, may be defined broadly as any business process that relies on an automated information system. Today, this is mostly done with Web-based technologies. The term e-Business was coined by Lou Gerstner, CEO of IBM. Electronic business methods enable companies to link their internal and external data processing systems more efficiently and flexibly, to work more closely with suppliers and partners, and to better satisfy the needs and expectations of their customers. In practice, e-business is more than just e-commerce. While e-business refers to more strategic focus with an emphasis on the functions that occur using electronic capabilities, e-commerce is a subset of an overall e-business strategy. E-commerce seeks to add revenue streams using the World Wide Web or the Internet to build and enhance relationships with clients and partners and to improve efficiency using the Empty Vessel strategy. Often, e-commerce involves the application of knowledge management systems. E-business involves business processes spanning the entire value chain: electronic purchasing and supply chain management, processing orders electronically, handling customer service, and cooperating with business partners. Special technical standards for e-business facilitate the exchange of data between companies. E-business software solutions allow the integration of intra and inter firm business processes. E-business can be conducted using the Web, the Internet, intranets, extranets, or some combination of these. Subsets Applications can be divided into three categories: 1. Internal business systems: ⊙ customer relationship management ⊙ enterprise resource planning ⊙ document management systems ⊙ human resources management 2. Enterprise communication and collaboration: ⊙ VoIP ⊙ content management system ⊙ e-mail ⊙ voice mail ⊙ Web conferencing 3. Electronic commerce: busine