The ever-evolving industry of e-commerce isn’t just about making profits. A market research firm reports companies conducting business over the Internet are expected to realize nearly $1.25 trillion in savings by 2002.
Giga Information Group Inc.’s latest research also found worldwide businesses in industrial nations enjoyed e-commerce-driven cost savings of $17.6
billion in 1998. The majority of the total — $15.2 billion — occurred in the United States.
U.S. cost savings are projected to reach over $600 billion annually in
2002, as Web capabilities continue to contribute to reducing or eliminating
costs associated with business practices.
“The Internet is more than just a new way to sell products and services, it’s a
way to efficiently run a business, resulting in significant cost savings
that add
to an organization’s bottom line,” said Andrew Bartels, a vice president
for Giga.
According to the company, cost savings usually produce greater profit
margins, as much as 60-80
percent, depending on implementation costs, rather than increases in sales
revenue. With that in mind, Giga estimates that in 2002, U.S. businesses
will see between $360 billion to $480 billion in profits from
Internet-based cost savings
alone. Businesses in other industrialized nations will garner similar results.
“Just as the
telephone affected more than communications and jet airplanes affected more
than travel, the Internet will continue to drive significant changes in
business
practices and processes, in addition to sales,” Bartels said.
Besides offering an efficient, effective sales channel, the Internet
can also provide greater potential to improve business processes, such as:
- Order handling and processing: Web sites can be used by distributors
and resellers to submit orders, verify prices, check order status, check
payment and make inquiries. These partners in turn can lower their own costs. - Sell-side distribution: The Internet used as a communications channel
can distribute marketing messages, sales collateral, incentives, training
materials
and promotions more efficiently. - Supply chain management and procurement: By using extranets to send
orders and intranets to allow employees to generate orders, companies can
see significant cost savings and increased productivity. - Routine employee transaction: Sites can be used to facilitate human
resources processes, including benefits enrollment, job postings, promotions,
etc. and employee business processes, such as travel arrangements, expense
reporting and the purchase of supplies. - Marketing: The Internet can be used as a tool, effectively communicate a
company’s position and promote its products. - Customer service: Companies can use the Internet to build customer
relationships.
“Internet sales are just the tip of the iceberg of economic value that
companies can derive from e-commerce,” Bartels said.
“Companies should consider
e-commerce as more than a way to sell products or services, they should
focus at least as much attention on the business efficiencies and cost-savings
opportunities presented by the Internet and related technologies.”
