The size of the business-to-business e-commerce market is far greater
than is commonly reported, according to The Boston Consulting Group,
and Electronic Data Interchange plays a large role.
One-fourth of all US business-to-business purchasing will be done
online by the year 2003, according to a study by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
The
research estimates that between 1998 and 2003, US business-to-business
e-commerce will grow by 33 percent each year and reach $2.8 trillion
in transaction value.
“In 1998, US business-to-business e-commerce was $671 billion,
comprising $92 billion in Internet-based transactions and $579 billion
in transactions using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) over private
networks,” said BCG Senior VP David Pecaut.
“By 2003, the transaction
value of business-to-business e-commerce over the Internet will be 2.0
trillion, and an additional $780 billion in purchases will be made
over private networks using EDI.”
EDI is the transfer of data between different companies using networks
such as the Internet.
According to BCG, the research shows the size of the B2B e-commerce
market is far greater than is commonly reported, in part because it
recognizes the established base of EDI using private networks and its
extensions into the Internet.
While EDI over private networks
represented the lion’s share of 1998 volume (86 percent), nearly all
of the additional volume in 2003 (90 percent, or $2.0 trillion) will
be Internet-based transactions. BCG predicts that business-to-business
e-commerce will account for 24 percent of total business-to-business
commerce by 2003.
While business-to-business e-commerce takes place all over the globe,
the North American market currently dominates. The $700 billion North
American market is twice the size of B2B e-commerce in the rest of the
world combined ($330 billion).
North America will likely retain its significant lead over the next
few years, but the global dynamics of B2B e-commerce will shift.
According to BCG, Western Europe lags 18 months behind North America
in B2B E-commerce adoption, but several Western European nations have
accelerated their e-commerce investments and will significantly close
this gap.
Asia and Latin America remain further behind, but this may
change as global supply chains go online. For local suppliers in local
markets, B2B e-commerce presents significant growth opportunities, as
they expand their networks and customer bases by accessing new export
markets.
BCG’s research found that growth will be strong in every market:
-
In North America, B2B e-commerce penetration will triple from 7
percent to 24 percent - In Western Europe it will grow from 3 percent to 11 percent
- In Asia/Pacific it will grow from 2 percent to 9 percent
- Latin America will move from 2 percent to 7 percent
By 2003, North America will reach $3.0 trillion in
business-to-business e-commerce and the rest of the world will reach
$1.8 trillion. More than 65 percent of all B2B e-commerce purchases
made in the US by 2003 will be made in six sectors: retail, motor
vehicles, shipping, industrial equipment, high tech, and government,
according to BCG. The initial adoption of B2B e-commerce will be
driven by cost savings rather than strategic opportunities.
BCG also reports that companies that have moved aggressively into B2B
e-commerce report cost savings on materials of up to 15 percent.
Reported transaction cost savings alone, in the purchase and ownership
of indirect materials, could reach almost 65 percent as buyers’
internal purchasing and record keeping processes are simplified.
BCG developed its forecast by focusing on the entire purchasing
process, according to BCG VP Andy Blackburn. The research counted all
of the intermediate transactions in the supply chain are considered
direct
and indirect purchases purchases separately to reflect adoption
rates accurately more accurately. The methodology relies on usage,
rather than the number of network connections, as a more meaningful
metric for estimating size and growth.
