E-commerce has the potential fundamentally to reshape the competitive environment. It therefore requires addressing at a strategic level.

Vision the effects e-commerce could have on your supply chain model.

Assess the implications of the Internet forum on:

• Customer interaction/expectations.

• Your organizational structure.

• Your suppliers and their suppliers.

• The marketplace domestic and global.

• Distribution channels.

• Opportunities/necessities for business integration.

Assess what opportunities are available for improving your supply chain right now.

Enhances potential value creation of the supply chain model.

Innovation in business.

Empowerment of employees.

Cost reductions throughout the supply chain.

Global forum.

Competitive necessity.

Does your organization have a web site?

Do your competitors have a web site?

Is your/competitor's web site interactive, providing on-line:

• Order enquiries/availability?

• Order placement?

• Customer request configuration?

• Price information?

• Order tracking?

• Technical diagnostics/after-sales support?

Global market forum.

Always open to the public.

Compete within national/international markets.

Global distribution channels.

Product configuration for specific markets/countries.

Flexible/demand management optimization.

Data availability/visibility/modelling.

Data availability for demand patterns.

Data availability for competitor benchmarking.

Value chain development closer to the customer.