Electronic Commerce and e-Business

The generally accepted method of electronically exchanging structured documents between trading partners used to be via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), but this has now been largely supplemented by a more comprehensive term - ‘electronic commerce’ - and EDI now just forms part of the overall picture. This change of emphasis was confirmed and endorsed by the decision of the EDI Association in January 1996 to change its name to the Electronic Commerce Association. The ECA subsequently merged with the Article Number Association to form E Centre, which has now been renamed to GS1 - a collaborative partner of CIPS (contact details given at the end of this Practice Guide).

Technological exchange in this area is helping to ensure supply integration as it cascades globally. The effect that it will have on the business and procurement will be discussed throughout this document.

Return to eCommerce / Systems topic.